Disclaimer: BSD and I do not own Sonic and Co.

A/N: Hi ya, thanks for the reviews. I've deleted that C2, Ken. Keep reviewing and enjoy...

Hands Of Wrath: Chapter Five

As Sonic sped across the landscape Sally wondered why Eggman was letting them take these pieces and what was the robot he had left in charge of the first container. It seemed that the Northern FF had dealt with it. Soon Sonic arrived at the Azure Lake. It was the largest lake on Mobius so if Eggman had hidden the container it would most likely be under the lake. Sonic put Sally down and surveyed the lake and it's mountainous backdrop.

"Now where would Eggman have hidden that canister?" Sonic thought out loud.

"If I was Eggman, I would've hidden the container in the lake." Sally piped up.

"That's a good idea Sal." Sonic said as he pulled a small receiver from his backpack.

"What's that?" Sally asked curiously.

"I had Rotor build this for me a while ago. It detects radio signals that were given off by Robotnik's robots. So, if what Eggman says was true, then we should be able to find the canister."

Sally and Sonic donned their rebreathers and stepped into the lake. As they dived under the surface, Sonic turned on the receiver. Sally found herself sinking.

"Sonic!" Sally yelled through the rebreather.

Sonic looked down and, seeing sally struggling swam down to her. He grasped her hand but she continued to sink. Soon, she hit the lake bed.

"What happened?" Sally asked.

"It must be that robotic leg of yours." Sonic replied.

Sally looked down at her right leg. "Don't worry about it you can still walk." Sonic said. "Now lets find that piece."

Checking the receiver, Sonic found that it pointed toward the centre of the lake.

"Follow me." Sonic said and swam on.

Sally found it hard walking under water but with Sonic swimming next to her, she didn't feel burdened by the water at all. As they went on, the beeping of the receiver got louder and quicker. Pretty soon both of them were looking over a large under water canyon. The surface was not far above them as sunlight filtered it's way down. In the centre of this large hole in the ground stood a large blue and white containment unit. But swimming around it was a large robotic fish that looked like a cross between a shark and an eel.

"Wait here Sal. I'm going to make sushi out of that thing." Sonic said as he swum down to confront it.

"Be careful." Sally called after him.

Sally watched from the lip of the hole as Sonic confronted the beast. On seeing Sonic, it lunged for him. Sonic was ready for this and pulled up sharply. The fish then circled round and came for him again. Sonic ducked low this time. Sally looked up and noticed a pile of boulders just off to her left. Sonic ducked to his left as the robot shark thing charged again.

"Sonic!." Sally yelled.

Sonic looked up and Sally pointed toward the boulders. Sonic looked over at the boulders and gave Sally a thumbs up and a wink.

"Got it." He called back and swam toward the ledge.

The fish was now charging at Sonic. He waited until the last moment then sped up and along the back of the fish. The aquatic robot didn't have time to turn as the boulders hailed down on top of it. Sally cheered as Sonic swam back to her.

"Now to open that container." He said.

Swimming behind Sally be put his hands under her arms and lifted her down into the hole. They stood before the large container. A laser shot out and scanned Sally.

"User one approved." Then a laser shot out and scanned Sonic. "User two approved. Capsule opening."

There was a hiss and the door opened admits a hail of air bubbles. Reaching in, Sonic withdrew the next piece of the de-robotizer and placed it in his backpack.

"So, how am I supposed to get out?" Sally asked.

"Leave that to me." Sonic told her.

Taking her by the hand, he lead her over to the massive piles of boulders. With Sonic lifting her up, sally was able to climb up the boulders back to top of the hole.

"Now let's get out of here." Sonic said.

"But how am I going to get out of the lake." Sally asked.

Sonic thought for a while then he had an idea.

"There's a slope close to where we entered the lake for the first time. You can get out there."

Taking Sally by the hand and swimming along side her, Sonic lead here to the slope. As Sally walked out, she removed the rebreather from her mouth collapsing on the shore for a rest. Sonic came up beside her and sat down next to her.

"O.k. We'll have a rest here then head for home." Sonic told her.

Sally nodded in mute silence. Sonic looked down at her leg and saw that now her entire right leg was robotized. He glanced back up and looked at Sally as she lay on her back, getting her breath back. He felt the need to get her back to the base as quick as possible. He didn't know why, he just had too. As he stood up, Sally lazily turned her head toward him.

"Anything wrong?" Sally asked.

"I thought we could get moving back to the base." Sonic said.

"Oh, o.k. sure." Sally replied.

Sonic scooped up Sally and took off back to Knothole. It seemed to take a bit longer to get back to Knothole but sally put it down to the fact that he was tired. When they arrived back at Knothole, it was late afternoon again. Sonic was exhausted. As soon as they entered the planning room, Sonic collapsed on the broken sofa. Sally decided to check her leg. She was in for a nasty shock. The metal virus had spread up to her waist and was snaking it's way across her waist.

"Sonic." Sally said with a fear in her voice that made Sonic sit up.

He was on his feet and at her side in a heart beat. Sonic knelt down and inspected the gleaming metal leg as it poked out of Sally's boot. Sonic stood back up. Sally looked at him with tear stained eyes.

"It's bad isn't it?" Sally asked.

Sonic didn't know what to say. All he did was put his arms around her and hold her close. He didn't have the heart to say yes. Sally seemed to guess what his answer would be as she wrapped her arms around him and broke down. Sonic in turn blinked tears out of his eyes. He had to turn her back, but this virus was a lot quicker then he had thought. They already had two pieces, they had come half way. All he could do for now was to give Sally emotional support. Sally was upset emotionally as she realised there was nothing that she or Sonic could do to stop it, and if they did find some way to stop the virus, it would be too late. Seeing sally upset was heart wrenching for sonic as all he could do was sit by and watch, but he vowed to do everything to fix Sally's condition. Sonic lead her over to the sofa and sat down with Sally next to him. Leaning on his shoulder, Sally softly cried into Sonics chest, while he stroked her hair.

"Try to get some sleep." Sonic whispered to her.

Sally looked up at him with tear stained eyes and nodded in compliance. Sonic settled down, gave Sally a kiss on the fore head and closed his eyes.

Sonic was the first to awaken. He glanced down Sally's body and noticed that the metal virus now covered her rump. Sonic gently woke Sally. Sally peered at him with red eyes. Sally got up and stretched. Sonic got up and stretched also. Sally glanced down to see how far the virus had spread. It had already covered her crutch and was now making it's way down her right thigh. Some of it was creeping up her left side. It had spread rather rapidly.

"Sonic." Sally looked at Sonic with a worried look in her eyes.

"I know, I know." He said soothingly. "Let's get breakfast and then see if there's any messages from Eggman. That's all we can do for now." Sally couldn't argue. They made their way to the mess hall and got breakfast. Sonic got his usual plate of five chilli dogs but Sally only got a small rasher of bacon, one hash brown and one egg. Sitting next to him, Sonic looked down at her plate and then up at her. As Sally was slowly turning into a robot, she was loosing the need to eat. Sonic knew he had to do something. Once they finished their meals they went to the planning room to see if any messages had come. And sure enough, there was a flashing red light. Sonic pressed the button and the image of Eggman came through.

"Well, I see you have survived my pet in Azure lake. You are quickly becoming a different Sonic to the one I fought. Your probably wondering where the next piece is. It lies in the desert to the south, in Desert Palace. Yes, the most treacherous ruins on Mobius. I assure you that this time you won't escape my friend this time. Oh, and just so you know, you can only get to island where the ruins are on at night. And at high tide only. Hmmm, If my calculations are right then your girl friend should be coming up to the halfway stage on robotization. Think you can save her in time. Now I know your mad and that's good. It makes the fight more exciting for me. Give my best regards to your girl friend. Oh ho ho ho."

The message faded and blinked off.

"Sonic?" Sally asked as she noticed Sonic hunch over and clench his fists.

"Sonic?"

Then as if something in him snapped, Sonic ran over to one of the computers and started to punch it hard, cursing loudly.

"Sonic stop." Sally called to him.

"Damn it, damn it all to hell!" Sonic yelled.

"Sonic stop please." Sally pleaded through tears.

"AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!" With a yell Sonic drove both fists into the computer. There was a dull thud as he hit it. Then he sank to his knees and began to weep. Sally ran over and held him in her arms crying tears of her own.

"I'm sorry Sal." Sonic wept.

"Sorry for what?" Sally asked.

"For going psycho like that."
"There's no need to apologise. I know what it's like to not do anything."

"No, it's that damned Eggman. He's taunting me. I….I feel so useless. I can't do anything to help you."

"Now listen to me Sonic hedgehog. Eggman is only doing this to get to you. Don't let it get to you. You can do it. I believe in you and no matter what you say, I strongly believe that you will find all the parts of the robotizer."

Just then a brain wave hit Sally.

"Didn't Eggman say that you could only get to the island at midnight at high tide?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"I remembered that there are two high tides, one at midnight and one at midday. We just got to get the one at midday and we should be safe." At the sound of this Sonic perked up.

"Your right. You're a genius Sal." Sonic said hugging her.

"O.k. lets get that third piece." Getting to his feet, he scooped up Sally and took off out the door.

"Desert Palace here we come."