Disclaimer: Shendu the Hedgehog and Burmecian Soldier Dan
A/N: Wow, i'm sorry I took so long. I got the next 3 chapters ready so they should be on this week. Please Review.
Hands of Wrath: Chapter 4
Mt Mobius stood in the distance as a large grey blob on the horizon. Sally's gaze was fixed on the small grey mass in the distance. Sonic poured on all the speed he could muster. The mountain slowly came into view and Sally could see the individual crags and crevices of the mountain. A small worn path ran up the side of the mountain, as many used it as a lookout point and, until recently, a communications dish site. Sally had felt her leg grow heavier during the trip to the mountain. Sonic placed Sally down and looked up at the edifice before them. While Sonic glanced from side to side looking, for the container, Sally had rolled down the shin part of her boot.
"Sonic." Sally uttered with some worry in her voice.
Sonic glanced over and saw what was worrying Sally. The metal had spread up from her ankle to the beginnings of her shin.
"We need to hurry." Sonic told Sally as she rolled up her boot.
"There's a path round the side of the mountain we could use." Sally pointed out.
Without a word, Sonic plucked Sally up and sped up the side of the mountain. In no time at all, they reached the top.
"Now, that capsule should be around here somewhere." Sonic said thoughtfully.
"Freeze!" Yelled a voice.
A soldier popped out from behind a rock aiming a rifle at them. He was closely followed by a second and then a third. All of them were wearing some type of casual wear that seemed to double up as uniform. Sonic and Sally raised their hands. Slowly the soldiers advanced. Sally could see a logo on one of the helmets of the soldiers. A jagged double F within a circle.
'Southern Freedom Fighters. What are they doing this far north?' Sally thought to herself.
Suddenly, what appeared to be their leader came striding from around a rock. He was a tall guy that wore ankle high black lace up boots, ripped camo trousers from which hung a gun holster for a pistol as well as a variety of pouches. He also wore a black singlet top on which a pair of Dog Tags jangled and a pair of immensely black shades.
"He must be the leader." Sonic whispered to Sally.
"Don't tell him about whats happening to me." Sally whispered back.
"Leave it to me Sal." Sonic whispered in response.
"What's all the ruckus?" he asked walking over.
"we've caught some of Eggmans spies sir." One of the soldiers reported, saluting as he did so.
"Right lets have a look at them." He said striding up to Sonic.
He looked him up and down and walked in a full circle round him. Then he did the same to Sally. After he did this, he turned to the soldiers assembled.
"You blithering idiots. These aren't spies, these are the leaders of the Western Freedom Fighters. They're the ones who demolished Robotropilis."
"Sorry sir." one of the soldiers apologised.
"Don't let it happen again, now return to your posts."
The soldiers disappeared behind the rocks from which they sprung from. The commander turned to them.
"Sorry about that. Name's Mongooza, leader of the Southern Freedom Fighters. And you must be the heroes Sonic and Sally that I heard so much about."
"Pleased to meet you Mongooza." Sally said.
"Hey glad to see a friendlily face." Sonic added.
Mongooza took them to the main camp and lead them to a large tent. He motioned them to sit.
"Now what brings you all the way up this way?"
"We got a report of a container in the area." Sally said.
Mongooza thought for a bit. "Ah yes, some of my men did come across a container when we climbed this mountain."
"Your men haven't opened it have they?" Asked Sonic, trying to stay calm.
"Not yet, darn thing seems to be locked with some kind of bio-optic lock." Mongooza answered.
"Well, we have the codes that will open that container." Sonic said.
"You do?" questioned Mongooza.
"Yes, but we need to take whatever is inside for immediate destruction." Sally answered.
"Well, if you have the codes then you had better follow me." Mongooza told them getting up.
As Mongooza lead them out of the tent, Sonic asked Mongooza a question.
"I was just curious as to why you are so far north."
"We were planning on putting a transmission booster on this mountain. It would help all the Freedom Fighter Factions communicate much easier. I heard about the incident with the Comms dish. I was going to send a communiqué to you but you've saved me the job." Mongooza finished, laughing out loud.
As they approached the capsule Sally noticed the heavy presence of the guards. Mongooza nodded to the guard at the entrance.
"There with me . They have clearance." The guard stood aside to let them past. Surrounded by gun emplacements and soldiers was the container housing the first part of the de-robotizer parts.
Sally and Sonic both stepped up to the capsule and noticed a scanner next to what seemed to be the door. As they stood before it, A small laser shot out and scanned Sally.
"User one approved." The capsule spoke.
Then as soon as the laser finished scanning Sally, another shot out and scanned Sonic.
"User two approved. Capsule opening."
With that there was a hiss and cold steam escaped from around the door. As it cleared, inside sat a piece of the de-robotizer. Sonic remembered what it looked like from the papers he had read back in the ruins of Robotnik's tower. Carefully taking the piece out of the capsule, Sonic placed in his backpack.
"We'll dispose of this immediately." Sonic told Mongooza as they were lead back to the main camp.
"Well, I guess we had better be going. Who knows what this thing is. The sooner it's disposed of the better." Sonic said as he scooped Sally up in his arms.
"Yes, quite right." Mongooza said in reply.
"It was nice to meet you." Sally said.
"No princess, the pleasure was all mine. I'll send you a message later when we get this transformer up and working." Mongooza called after them.
"Well goodbye." Sally called back.
"See ya around." Sonic replied as he took off down the mountain path. Once they reached the bottom and started over the plains, Sally turned to Sonic.
"Thanks for not telling them."
"It's alright Sal." Sonic replied.
"But I feel bad lying to Mongooza like that."
"Once he we tell him what was wrong with you then he'll forgive us." Sonic replied as they crossed the plains back to Knothole.
Once they got back to the base, Sonic placed the piece of the de-robotizer in a strong room where they stored all the more important items and then returned to the planning room where he collapsed on to the sofa to rest. Sally sat at one of the desks and pulled down the leg of her boot. The lower half of her shin glistened in steel. She felt faint. Placing one hand on the desk to support herself she put the other on her forehead. She felt an arm on her back. Looking up she saw Sonic looking at her.
"You alright?" He asked.
"I just felt a little faint." Sally replied.
"Why don't you go for a lay down and try to get a little nap."
"I think I might do that." Sally said getting up from the chair.
As she made her way to her bedroom, Sally found that she was rather tired. Entering her bed chamber, she collapsed on the bed. Getting comfortable she gently drifted off to sleep.
Upon waking, Sally checked on her leg. Now the metal had spread up to just below her knee. Now Sally felt a little bit panicky. She had to find Sonic. Making her way to the planning room, she found him examining the piece of the de-robotizer that they got from Mt Mobius. Sonic looked up from it to her.
"Oh, your awake." He said putting the piece to one side.
"How long was I asleep?" Sally asked.
"A good few hours." Sonic replied.
"I want you to look at something." Sally said pulling down the leg of her right boot. Sonic gasped at what he saw. This was getting serious. Sally pulled her boot back up.
"So what are you doing with that?"
"I've been trying to find something that will point us in the next direction. A message or something, but I've found nothing. I don't know what kind of game Eggman is playing but don't like it. He's using you and I don't like it." Sonic said through gritted teeth.
Sally sat next to him and put an arm round him. Looking at the wall clock, Sonic sighed.
"It's getting late. I suppose we should get an early night so then we can figure out what to do tomorrow." He yawned.
"I suppose your right." Sally yawned in response.
"Goodnight Sal." Sonic bade her.
"Goodnight Blue." Sally said after him.
As she walked back to her room, Sally wondered if what Sonic was doing was right. He might be playing into Eggman's hands. But then again what if Eggman wants to test Sonic to se if he's different from the sonic he fought in his dimension, Sally thought to herself. As she got changed and climbed into bed, she wanted Sonic to find the de-robotizer and transform her back. With doubts and questions filling her mind, she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Waking up next morning, Sally was dreading to what she might find on her leg. Bracing herself, she whipped back the duvet and found that the robotizer virus had spread up to her thigh. Nearly her whole leg was gleaming metal. Pulling on her boots and waistcoat, she made her way to the mess hall to get some breakfast. Inside, she found Sonic waiting for her.
"Hey, Morning…" Sonic broke off when her saw her leg.
"Oh Sally, are you o.k.?" Sonic asked.
Sally looked up at him without saying a word. Sonic came over and put his arms round her.
"I'm turning into a monster." Sally whimpered through tears.
"Your not." Sonic told her. "Your still the girl I know and love."
Softly sobbing, Sally put her arms around Sonic.
"Come on, dry your eyes and lets have some breakfast."
Sally wiped her eyes and sat next to Sonic as they ate their meals in silence. Afterwards, they made their way to the planning room. Sonic wanted to take another look at the de-robotizer piece. Upon entering, they noticed a flashing red light. Another message. Sonic marched over and pressed the button. Once again, the face of Eggman lurched out of the display.
"Well, it seems you have found the first piece. How did you find the robot I sent to guard it? Tricky? Well if you thought that piece was easy to get the next piece will be even harder. You'll find it at Azure lake in the far east. I would get moving if I were you. It looks like that virus is becoming quite a little monster." The message ended.
"We're off to Azure Lake." Sonic said.
"Wait a moment." Sally told Sonic.
She quickly left the planning room, went to Rotors small workshop, grabbed the two rebreathers and made her way back to Sonic in the planning room.
"What do we need those for?" Sonic asked.
"Eggman may have hidden the container under water." Sally told him.
"Good thinking Sal." Sonic said and scooped sally up in his arms. "Next stop, Azure Lake."