Alright you guys/girls know the drill by now I'm sure: the full Disclaimers and legal stuff is on the first Chapter and carry over for ALL subsequent chapters. How do you like the story thus far? Please send any comments you have on this story I'd love to read the feedback. But now, on with the show…


A Visitor From Afar

Ch. 12 Dude! Where's the Kid!


"Hmm… whatever made that noise, I can't hear it anymore." Sally looked out Rotor's window, but saw no clouds, she turned back to the others. "And there's no clouds in the sky, so it can't be thunder."

"It's probably nothin' Sally-girl. Nothin' ta get worked up over." Bunnie patted Sally on the back.

"You're probably alright, Bunnie." Sally smiled, grateful that she had such great friends in such trying times like these.

"Princess Sally…" Nicole suddenly started to vibrate getting Sally's attention. Sally promptly took Nicole into her hands and opened her up. "Receiving priority com-link, code delta; level three encryption."

"Sounds serious…" Bunnie mused as she and the others gathered around Sally and Nicole.

"Open communication channel, Nicole." Sally pushed the playback button on the communications array on Nicole's keypad.

Instantly an image appeared on Nicole's display screen. The person displayed before them before them none other then Uncle Chuck. "Princess Sally, I've got something very important to tell you…"

"What's the matter Uncle Chuck?" Sally inquired with curiosity in her eyes.

"It's regarding that creature Tails rescued last night…"

"Slasher?" Sally asked confirming who they were speaking of.

"Oh, so that's his name…?" Uncle Chuck rubbed his chin with one hand as he pondered this new information.

"Didn't Sonic tell you that when he saw you this morning." Sally asked tilting her head puzzled by this.

"No… in fact when he was here, Sonic didn't seem to really like this 'Slasher' person being around much at all; always scowling when he mentioned him and so on. Anyway, that's not why I called you…"

"Did you find something on who Slasher is?" Sally asked, the prospect of getting some answers exciting her.

"No, but I think it's safe to assume he isn't working Robotnik."

"What makes you so sure of that?" Rotor asked his words lanced with spite.

"Well, as you all know Robotnik stole some sort of crystal from Slasher last night. He's been analyzing that crystal for sometime now, diverting a lot of time from many of his other operations to do so." Chuck explained.

"What iz this having to do weeth anthingz?" Antoine asked shrugging his shoulders in confusion.

"I'm getting to that sonny-boy." Chuck scolded holding his robotic hands out in front of himself to silence Antoine. With his audience now quiet, Chuck cleared his throat from habit and continued his report. "(Ahem), Robotnik believes that crystal possesses powers similar to Chaos Emeralds, or what have you. Problem is; he can't figure out how the thing works. He believes that only Slasher can unlock the power. He's sent out several patrols of 'Badniks out into the great forest hoping to capture him."

"Oh dear…" Sally gasped realizing that both Tails and Slasher were in great danger since they were still out in the Great Forest.

"But we beat those no-good-'niks easily, even Sugar-Tails can handle them…" Bunnie started to say before Uncle Chuck interrupted her.

"Unfortunately it looks like Robotnik had them all upgraded with new weapons, and what looks like a new combat matrix that's far better then the old ones. They'll be a lot tough to fight now, that combat matrix allows them to think and react faster in a fight, and even helps them learn their opponents tactics." Uncle Chuck leaned closer to the monitor to emphasis the seriousness of this problem.

"Well, even if Sugar-hog doesn't take to kindly ta Slasher, there's no way he'll let some goons drag him off without a fight." Bunnie stated with great confidence.

"You're right Bunnie, Sonic may not be able to get along with everyone he meets, but there's no way he'll let someone be captured and robotisized if he can help it. Thanks for the warning Uncle Chuck, we'll be in touch." Sally said, closing Nicole, ending the communication. Sally pondered for a minute; she knew Bunnie was right about Sonic's nature, if anybody knew how Sonic's head worked Sally did, even though getting in his head drove her crazy sometimes. "Still, I should contact him and warn him…"

"Warn me about what?" a voice suddenly asked from the open doorway behind the Freedom Fighters.

"Ahh!" Everyone shouted as they turned around quickly and jumped back in unison as they spotted the source of the voice was none other then Sonic, leaning up against the doorframe proudly. Sally almost dropped Nicole from her surprise. Rotor scowled at Antoine, who had leaped into his arms in surprise like a cowardly girl. "Heheh… er, you have ze very sparkly teeth, messier, what toothpaste do you use?" Antoine joked trying to cover up his own embarrassment. Rotor huffed and let Antoine fall to the floor in an indignant heap.

"What have I told about sneaking up on us like that!" Sally shouted, stamping her foot on the floor, diverting the hedgehogs grinning face from her blushing cheeks of embarrassment, and forced herself into a scowl. In a flash something dawned on her, her eyes told of her rising anxiety. "Wait a minute… Sonic, where's Tails?"

"He and 'Blade Boy' are probably chow'n down on my chilli dog's by now." Sonic replied dryly saying his self appointed nickname for Slasher in a most insulting manner.

"You left Tails out in the Great Forest ALONE!" Sally almost screamed.

"Chill Sal, he can take care of himself." Sonic held up his hands in hopes that would stop the fuming princess.

"Sonic, what were you thinking!" Sally continued to berate Sonic, all of which made no sense to him since he knew nothing of the 'Badniks.

Bunnie walked up behind Sally who was stomping her feet in anger and placed her hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "What Sally-girl is trying to say is, Slasher had Sugar-Tails are in danger."

"What!" Sonic exclaimed standing up straight; abandoning his casually resting place against the door frame.

Sally exhaled releasing her frustrations as Bunnie patted her back soothingly. "Thanks Bunnie." She felt much calmer, her anxieties were as high as ever, but now she wasn't furious anymore. "We received a call from Uncle Chuck just now saying that Robotnik sent out some upgraded 'Badniks into the forest. And they are after Slasher."

Sally didn't need to elaborate any farther as the quick thinking hedgehog filled in the rest of the picture. "Tails…" he muttered to himself quietly. He was about to turn and race off to find Tails when he felt someone's outreached hand grab his shoulder.

He looked back to see Sally as the one who had stopped him. "I'm coming too, Sonic."

"No way Sal, too dangerous…" Sonic protested waving his hands in front him in a cutting motion and knocking her hand away form his shoulder.

"No way; yes way, hedgehog, and that's final." Sally said with such authority that Sonic knew she was set on coming along, whether he approved or not.

Knowing it to be pointless to argue Sonic nodded his head in defeat. "Count me in Sally-girl…" Bunnie offered, but Sally held up her hand clearly saying no.

"Sorry Bunnie, but Rotor still needs to repair your arm." Bunnie couldn't really argue with that, she'd be more of a hindrance then any help in her condition. She resentfully nodded her compliance.

Antoine glanced between Sonic and Sally and Rotor and Bunnie and quickly thought of an excuse. "Um… I shall stay here to keep Madame Bunnie company."

Sally nodded with a grin and looked to her left at Sonic. Hopping into his waiting arms she wrapped her arms around his neck for support and looked at the handsome hedgehog. "I know I'm going to regret saying this but; let's juice." She said with dejected smile. Sonic returned the grin, but his more of an evil, teasing one.

Sally would not be disappointed as that evil grin confirmed Sally's fear with Sonic bolting out of the hut at full speed. Moving at his current speed is not exactly something fun when you're the passenger. Sonic's grin widened as Sally shrieked pushing her face into his chest so she didn't have to watch the ground zip by at such a frightening speed.

Sonic enjoyed the warmth their bodies were sharing, but whatever thoughts he was having regarding the beautiful princess in his arms were interrupted as another, much louder clap of thunder ripped though the air. Sonic screeched to a halt at the bridge that crossed the brook which split the village in half. "A storm with no clouds?" he mused looking into the sky but seeing no clouds.

Sally into Sonic's eyes in shock, realizing what that sound really was. "That wasn't thunder Sonic… that was an explosion! They found them!"

Sonic's eyes widened in shock. "Hang on Sally, I'm gonna juice it to the max." he shouted tightening his grip on Sally and taking off with such speed that leaves lying on the ground chased after the blur in his wake, and a few people standing nearby were knocked to the ground from the shock wave.

Sonic ran as fast as he could, only two thoughts cycling around in his head. "Why did I leave him alone? I just hope I can reach them in time!"


End Ch 12

Short chapter eh? but now… the stage is set for a massive Battle Royale! That's right! No more waiting for that big fight I've been promising. it's coming up NEXT CHAPTER! You can't leave now so hang tight the action's just getting started.