Angel: I'm late to this announcement, but if you've been following all my stories, you'll remember the name Shaeril McBrown. But for those who don't know or aren't familiar, she basically posed as someone on here who accused me of plagiarism even though her stories couldn't be anymore different than mine (and she was nearing 1,000 stories that aren't interesting, so the accusation was a stretch anyway). And then she tried and failed to get me to support her when I just couldn't after all that.
Well, seems like someone opened their eyes finally, because her account is FINALLY taken off the site. After like what, a year after she did that to me, and who knows how long of her doing that to others? But at least it finally happened and I don't need to worry about her anymore. I just don't get how it happens just now instead of after months of her shtick.
In Robotropolis, a Swat-Bot car passed by. Sophia, Sonic, and Sally were running down the halls. They were panting as they were attempting to locate something. They stood in front of a control panel not too far away.
"That's it," Sally confirmed to the two. "Section 2, module 14."
Sonic lifted up the panel to reveal the entrance to the air ducts. "Let's do it to it!" They all stated in unison, doing the handshake together. Sophia had recently learned it, and it made her feel more like she was part of the team. They crawled in one by one, closing the door behind them. Sonic slowly crawled forward, Sophia grunting.
"I feel like the walls are closing in on me," She complained as they were a bit small.
"Hold it, guys," Sonic held up a hand, stopping them both from moving further. The hedgehog opened the door underneath him, Sophia using her super hearing to listen from her spot.
"Maximum ferrite field, 95.7 percent roboticization factor," Snively was stating from his clipboard as he was checking over the machine.
The group took a look around at the wires around them. "Which one controls the old Roboticizer?"
"First, we shut down the alarm," Sally held out a few wires to the human alien. "Do your thing, Soph."
"Alright." Her eyes turned red as they shot lasers from them, cutting off the lasers in half.
"That should do it," Sally told the two.
"Should?" Sonic asked, a bit concerned over that word.
"Well, he could have a backup," She informed them.
"Not too implausible given that it's Robotnik," Sophia narrowed her eyes.
"Touche," Sonic agreed with her. "But no prob, we can handle it."
"The difficult part will be getting into that Roboticizer's software, so that we can deactivate it," The chipmunk princess pointed out.
"Come on, Sal. With my looks, your brains, and Sophia's powers, we're unstoppable," He smiled up at her.
"You're...partly right."
"Which part?" He asked defensively, putting his hands on his hips.
"Guess."
"Oh brother," Sophia sighed, facepalming at this. She found out not too long ago that her two friends were...on opposite sides when it came to personality. They were both good friends to her, but whenever they started fighting, that was when she wanted to just get them to let it go. Especially when they were on a mission. Both of them had flaws that they just loved pointing out to each other...
"Ha! The incredibly good looks part, right? Right Soph?" Sonic asked her, looking over Sally's shoulder and she glanced away.
"Um...well..." She rubbed her chin.
"What? What's with the well?" He protested to her.
"You're dreaming again."
Sonic pulled out his mirror and moved back his quills with his hand, rubbing his chin. This more or less annoyed Sally, and Sophia definitely. "That is not a dream, that is one hedgehog hunk!"
"Sonic, will you get serious?!" Sally snatched the mirror away from him. He sat back, a bit shocked and appalled.
"Yo, I am serious!"
"Sally, Sonic," Sophia gave them a warning tone. "You're doing it again."
"Sorry," They murmured, looking away in embarrassment. Sometimes their arguing made Sophia a bit uncomfortable, especially since they were only here for one thing and one thing only. And other times, they would involve her to get her to be on one side, which sometimes made her wish that she wasn't paired up with them, but she still liked them.
Sally inserted something above her head and flipped a switch. Unfortunately, it also alerted Robotnik and he pressed a button to get in contact with Snively.
"Snively! The roboticizer is in sabotage mode!"
"I'll check it, sir," He reported back, starting up a scan. It stopped right in the vents, revealing the shadows of the three Freedom Fighters. He looked at the screen and recognized them immediately. "The hedgehog! Swat-bots, sector six red corridor!"
A group of Swat-Bots ran towards the room and Snively looked up to see the three peeking in. "Excuse me, is this where we catch the monorail for Knothole?"
"Go ahead and joke, hedgehog, but this time we've got you!" Snively declared angrily.
"What you've got, Snively, is a big fat zip-o!" Sonic argued back.
"Guess again, rodent," He stomped up to the control panel. "What I have is your worthless hide," He pressed a button to emit smoke into the vents, causing Sally to gasp and she started coughing.
"The fire extinguishers!" She realized as they crawled back the way out.
"What? He can't take a joke?" Sonic looked over his shoulder.
"Apparently not," Sophia murmured to herself as she kept crawling.
They reached the door...only to find that it was closed. They glanced to each other in worry and tried propping it open, with no success. "Oh wait," Sonic bonked himself on the head, gesturing to the door. "After you, Soph."
She used her laser eyes to hit the door, making a big enough circle for them to get out. The foam flew out the hole that she just made.
"Hang on, girls!"
Lasers were shot from above, and they looked up to see Swat-bots firing down at them from the balcony.
"Any ideas?" Sally wondered as Sonic grabbed their arms.
"...The foam!" He murmured in realization. He watched closely as two ships came by and then jumped off with the two. They all screamed as they fell straight in, but they turned out to be fine as they ran down the walkway. "Past cool! Now let's hope that the hover pad is still where we left it! Waah!" He barely dodged another laser as they reached the hover pad. "We're in gear!" He steered as Sophia glanced over her shoulder, hair flying.
"Sonic, behind us!" Sally called out and Sophia watched while the hedgehog was zipping around pipes.
"Hang on, Sal and Soph!"
"They're still behind us," She informed and Sophia took a deep breath. When she let it out, a snow flurry appeared in front of the Swat-bots, distracting them. Sonic flew into a tunnel while the ships flew past them.
"Adios, Swatbots! When the hedgehog brain is really cookin', those chumps don't stand a chance."
"Sophia, I didn't know you had ice powers," Sally commented to the pink-haired girl.
"Not everyone on my planet exactly has powers. On a special holiday for each person is a gathering ceremony. You can either acquire a power or a talent so that they can contribute to the community in their own way. But since I'm a royal I have more abilities, while my special power is ice breath," She explained to them.
"Way past cool. And I mean literally," Sonic told her as they flew out of there...right in front of a Swat ship.
"Sonic!"
"No prob," He pressed a button to make them spin around and the two had to hang on for dear life. They screamed as they spun around, with the hedgehog eventually gaining back balance. Sophia gave him a 'really' look while Sally was annoyed.
"Maybe the old hedgehog brain is a little overcooked?!" She retorted to him.
"They might be Robotnik's forces, but just remember that they still have firepower and quantity," Sophia reminded the hedgehog.
"A minor mistake, no biggie. We gotta be close to that subway station," They flew over several Swat ships, which headed straight for them. He then gasped, sweating a little as he looked over his shoulder. "Oh man."
"No biggie, huh?" Sally lightly tapped him.
"Okay, a major biggie," He corrected himself. This time, however, the Swat bots weren't trying to shoot them down. "How come they're not shooting at us?" Sonic wondered as he continued driving.
"They're saving us for the Robotocizer," Sally answered, Sophia gritting her teeth.
"Well, it ain't gonna happen. Hang tight," Sonic pressed a button several times.
"Sonic..." The chipmunk princess warned him.
"Chill. I know what I'm doin'," He defended, the other two glancing at each other briefly. Then Sally let out a chuckle.
"Huh. That would be a first."
"Very funny," He deadpanned at her as they flew off.
"Thank you."
"Focus..." Sophia added in to the two, rolling her eyes.
"Out of the way, Swat butts! Hedgehog coming through!" Sonic flew straight into a few ships, which flew away as soon as they saw him. He laughed in victory. "Am I cool or am I cool?"
"That was absolutely crazy, Sonic!" Sally scolded him. "Soph could've fell off!"
"He he, yeah it was, wasn't it?" He replied boastfully. "And she's fine!"
"You sure about that? Because I don't think my stomach is supposed to churn," The alien princess held her stomach, looking a bit green.
"You are impossible!"
"Thank you, thank you," Sonic just took it as a compliment, Sophia bending over so she could catch her breath. "See that subway station anywhere, girls?" Sonic took a quick look around for it as he flew down.
"Yes! There!" She pointed at their destination, but before they could reach it, they were suddenly shot down by a Swat bot ship. "Sonic!"
"Hang on!" He was able to fly the hover pad down to the floor without crashing.
"At least we made it to the rendezvous point," She murmured to herself and they jumped off the thing. Sonic grabbed her hand and then Sophia's, running forward.
"Let's juice!"
They ran down the ramp together, a few Swat-bots flying over. They started firing at the three, Sally screaming. Sophia created a shield over their heads so that she could deflect any lasers.
They reached the subway train, which had a few Swat-bots, but also a few people who were roboticized. The trio went into hiding as they saw the roboticized people go into the train.
"Worker-Bots!" Sally whispered to them and Sophia gasped.
"Wait, that last one."
Sonic let out a gasp as well as he stood up. "Sal, Soph...there! That bot is...my Uncle Chuck!"
"And that one behind him...is my mother..." The alien girl said slowly in shock. Seeing her mother for the first time as a robot saddened her...especially since she now knew that she was just being an unknowing slave for Robotnik.
"You two are right!"
"Why do I know that face from the hedgehog?" The pink-haired princess murmured in thought, Sonic whipping around to her.
"Wait...you said that your rings came from an old family friend, right? And that it had to be Uncle Chuck. So that means you've must have met him before!" Sonic told her and she shook her head.
"We can't know for sure unless he confirms this. And he's, no offense, a slave for Robotnik, right? I don't think he'd be forthcoming with any information right now," She sighed a bit, feeling bad that she couldn't remember. Because she could tell that Sonic had a strong bond with his uncle.
"We've gotta get them outta here!" Sonic jumped up to get them, but Sally stopped the hedgehog.
"Sonic, wait. There's too many Swat-bots."
"As much as I wanna help my mother, we can't take on that many robots on our own..." Sophia looked away, hugging herself. "And what if they get hurt while we try to save them?"
"Soph and I can handle the Swat-bots!" Sonic bragged, looking on.
"Sonic, use your head! Sophia's right, it's too risky. We need a plan."
"You're right!" He begrudgingly agreed with her, and the train was marked Crystal Mine.
"Where's the Crystal Mine?" Sally asked curiously as they watched the train leave.
"I don't have a clue," Sonic shook his head. "But we're gonna find out! Let's juice!" He grabbed Sally's hands, smiling.
"Sonic!" They turned to see Rotor, Bunnie, and Antoine arriving. "We scoped out Robotnik's junkyard, but we couldn't find any old Robotocizer parts. How'd you guys do?"
"Not much better I'm afraid, except that-"
"We found Uncle Chuck and Queen Valentina!" Sonic interrupted her.
Bunnie walked up to them, grabbing their hands. "Oh, Sonic, sugar, that is so exciting!"
"Yeah!" Rotor agreed with her.
"I would be more excited if I hadn't seen just her or if she wasn't a robot..." Sophia murmured in thought, concerning her.
"Your dad wasn't there?"
"Not that we could see," Sally shook her head. "I don't feel confident that he's on that train with them."
"So then where are they?" Rotor questioned and the girl glanced at the hedgehog.
"On a train, headin' for the Crystal Mine."
"What Robotnik has them going to a mine for, I don't know," Sophia frowned a bit.
"Where is dis Crystal of Mine?" Antoine scratched the side of his head.
"That way!" Sonic pointed in the opposite direction and they looked down the track together.
"Well, we'd better start walking," Sally spoke up, and then Rotor noticed something.
"Hey guys!" Rotor pointed a lone train on the track that was apparently abandoned. "Here's our ride to the mine." They started jumping onto the tracks one by one, only to be shot at by Swat-bots who had seen them. "Incoming!" He jumped off with Antoine.
"Uh, perhaps it is time to fly from the coup, yes?!" He was pulled in by Rotor and Sonic, the other three already inside. The door closed and they took off down the tracks, with the robots unable to go after them with no ride.
They rode the train all the way down into an area that had a big hole in the middle, as well as having a roof over them. They jumped out of the train and explored with their eyes.
"I can't believe this," Sally groaned in disgust. "Robotnik's pollution is everywhere."
Rotor grunted angrily as they peeked over a platform to see what was going on. "Man, would I love to turn Robotnik into a can opener!"
"Shh!" Sonic held up a finger in front of his lips. "Cool it, Rote!" They then directed their attention for up ahead, watching several Swat-bots walking out of a door in a single file line. "Keep your eyeballs peeled for Uncle Chuck or Sophia's mom!"
"Does she have powers like you, Soph?" Rotor wondered curiously.
"Yes, but they can't be transferred into a metallic form. Everyone on my planet can have their powers stripped away if they're suddenly in a new form. Thankfully she can get them back when she..." Sophia paused and then rapidly shook her head, remembering that right now, there was no way to turn her mother back to normal...
The two appeared a few seconds later, at the end of the line. The robot queen was walking behind Uncle Chuck. "There they are! I'll get 'em!" He jumped onto the platform, Sally holding out a hand.
"Sonic! Be careful."
"Sonic, I'm coming with you!" The pink-haired girl whispered, flying over. Sonic glanced at her as she landed next to him.
"I'll handle my mother," Sophia told the hedgehog, keeping her eyes on the robot. "You take care of your uncle."
"Are you sure you can do it, Soph?" Sonic asked her in worry. This was the first time she was facing her mother in her robot form, after all...and Sophia was genuinely concerned for her parents' well-being that he wasn't sure she could pull through this without getting emotional.
"She's my mom," She closed her eyes. "If I can't calm her down...who would? I'm not letting Robotnik stop me from bringing her back."
He paused at her question and ultimately decided to not respond. "Uncle Chuck! Wait up!" He shouted, running over. Sophia rushed over to her mother.
"Mom!"
The door closed in front of them, the hedgehog grabbing Uncle Chuck's arm. Sophia took hold of her mother's hand. "Uncle Chuck! Chill, will ya? It's me."
"Mom...it's really you..." She murmured happily.
The two growled at their loved ones, snatching their arms back. Sophia gasped in horror, it felt like she wasn't even recognizable to her mom. "Uncle Chuck! Your highness! What are you guys doin'?"
They went over to a button and pressed it, sounding off an alarm. The duo then started walking over to them. "Yo, it's me, Sonic!" Sonic stepped back in horror of what he did. The two just continued stepping forward with snarls, the alarm continuing to blare.
"Mom, please stop what you're doing!" Sophia pleaded, but it did nothing.
"Uncle Chuck, it's me, Sonic! Your one and only too cool nephew! Don't you remember?" Sonic asked, but it was like talking to a brick wall.
"Mother! It's Sophia, your only daughter," The girl gestured to herself. "Please...please remember me!" She looked like she was about to cry as she had never witnessed her mother like this before. The two robots lunged forward, but they stepped out of the way.
"Bunnie! Rotor! Grab them!" Sonic called out, the two running over to pick them up.
"Easy does it, sugar, I won't hurt ya."
"Sorry about this, your highness," Rotor apologized as he grabbed her, the two robots snarling and struggling.
"Get 'em out of here, guys!" Sonic looked over his shoulder, the two walking away with them though it wasn't an easy feat...they jumped off the platform as Sonic kicked at the alarm, but it was still blaring. "Soph!"
Her eyes flashed red as she directed her laser eyes at the button, essentially disabling and destroying the alarm. They ran off and joined the others, watching the two robots. They just looked so...feral that it was unlike them.
"Sacre bleu!" Antoine held his cheeks in horror. "This is terrible what Robotnik has done to them."
Sonic watched Sophia clench a fist as she looked downwards. It was true...she or her parents didn't deserve this. They essentially did nothing to warrant all of this...and yet it was happening to them anyway. And it took all of Sophia's strength to not lash out right then and there. Because they were innocent...they didn't even know Robotnik or about Mobius even.
"Don't worry, Uncle Chuck," Sonic stepped up to his robotic uncle. "We'll get you back to normal. Got any ideas, Sal?" He turned to his friend with a worried look.
"Well..." She stepped forward to them. "The roboticization process is still a big mystery. But maybe...just maybe, we can jog their memories." She dug out a power ring from his bag and then pointed to Sophia's around her wrists. She flinched and looked down at the rings, glancing up at her mother curiously.
"Yeah, past cool, Sal!"
She gave the ring to Uncle Chuck. "Uncle Chuck, this is one of the power rings you invented for me, remember?" He noticed the robot looking between the ring and Sonic. "Sal, it's workin'! Attaway, Chuck! It's me, Sonic, your fave nephew! Please remember!"
He blinked, squeezed his eyes shut, and then squinted at the hedgehog in front of him. "...Sonic? Is that you, sonny?"
He beamed and hugged his uncle. "Uncle Chuck! Yes! Man, I sure missed you!"
"I missed you too," He hugged Sonic back, tears forming from his eyes. He pulled back and then wiped away his tears. "Still good-lookin' and always cookin', eh, Sonny boy?"
"You got it, Unc. Shakin' and bakin'."
He then noticed the others. "Princess Sal! Rotor! Bunnie!" The three looked happy that he recognized them. "Oh, it's a real treat to see you again."
"Welcome back, Charles," Sally waved at him.
"How you doin', Chuck?" Rotor nodded, still holding Sophia's mother.
"Dr. Hedgehog, Bonjour," Antoine felt like he was gonna cry as he saluted.
"Bonjour, Antoine," Uncle Chuck bowed and then noticed Sophia. "Oh! Princess Soph! I haven't seen you since you were a kid."
"Wait...you two have met?" Sonic looked between the two.
"Sure have. I was friends with her grandfather as he was a regular visitor here. She visited Mobius with him and her parents as they wanted a way to channel her powers when she grew up. So I made the power rings she's wearing now to help her. Seems like she's doing just fine with you."
She smiled softly at him. "I don't remember that, but it's an honor to meet you, Charles," She bowed her head and he glanced at the queen.
"Her too, huh?"
Sophia sighed and stepped forward, looking at her mother in the eye. "Mom...it's me. Don't you remember?" Her mother snarled in response and she looked away. "...What about Dad? We have to find him together..." The robot flinched upon hearing that. "He's suffering like you...and he wants to see us again deep down..."
"...I-Itileo..." She murmured, closing her eyes. She slowly calmed down and then dropped her arms.
"Did it work?" Sally questioned after a few seconds, the robot looking up.
"Ashopi...ym lichd!" The robot queen leaped forward, hugging the girl tightly.
"Mom!" Sophia whispered happily, hugging her back. Then the robot looked up at the group.
"Tge ywaa!" She hugged the girl protectively and thankfully she didn't have her powers, or else she'd seriously hurt them.
"Soph...we can't understand her, remember?" Sonic asked and Sophia turned back to them, rubbing at her eyes.
"Right. I know how to fix that. I just have to share my understanding of your language to her systems."
"You know how to do that?" Rotor questioned in awe.
"It's a safety measure of our people should something happen to their consciousness such as turning into a robot," Sophia responded as she touched her mother's forehead with her hands. She then closed her eyes and a few seconds later, she stepped backwards, her mother opening her own eyes.
"...Who are you? Why are you with my daughter?" Queen Valentina spoke up.
"We saved her from the one who did this to you," Sally explained, gesturing to herself. The queen examined her body and scowled.
"The man who kidnapped us...he threw us into this machine and..." She looked down at her daughter, caressing her head. "I thought I'd never see you again..." She took a deep breath. "I am Queen Valentina of Xenia...or what is left of it. Who might you be?"
"These are my friends, Mother," Sophia smiled up at her. "I've joined their team to fight against Robotnik so that we can fight against him. Their names are Sonic, Sally, Bunnie, Rotor, and Antoine."
"Sorry that we had to meet under these circumstances, your highness," Sonic told the robot woman, who shook her head.
"I am forever grateful to you for rescuing my child. Please call me Valentina."
"It's nice to meet you, Valentina," Sally smiled at her.
"Where's Father?" Sophia asked in concern. "Why isn't he with you?"
"Your father? ...We were separated after we took on these dreadful forms. I...I wish I knew where he is, but I do not..."
The others couldn't help but feel a little sad since they could sense that she really wanted to be reunited with him.
"Come on, guys. We're bailing you out of this dump, and then Sal can probably track him down!" Sonic stated to them.
"Oh oui oui, yes. The better the sooner," Antoine agreed with him, mostly out of fear.
"Not yet, Sonic," Uncle Chuck placed a hand on Sonic's shoulder. "There's something much more important than me or her highness that we need your help on."
Sonic and Sophia glanced at each other in confusion briefly. "More important than you? Like what?" Sonic shrugged in disbelief.
"We'll have to show you. Down in the mine," Uncle Chuck and Valentina took the lead.
"This must be done," Valentina spoke up. "Follow us."
They reached an elevator door, but it was closed off. "Bit of a snag, here. The elevator's gone until the next shift," Uncle Chuck informed the group.
"Forget the shift, there's always the shaft! Bunnie, Sophia, waste these doors," Sonic stated and the two stepped forward.
"My pleasure."
Sophia aimed her laser eyes at the door and it pierced the elevator. She made a hole so that Bunnie could pull it out. The others joined them as they looked down the shaft, where some ropes awaited them.
"Sweet thinkin', Sonny! Let's get slidin'!"
"No need for me to slide," Valentina held up a hand in denial and jumped into the shaft. Her skirt opened up a bit like a parasol so she could float down safely. Sophia's wings appeared as she followed after her mother.
"Are they awesome or what?" Sonic asked the rest before taking a rope and sliding down, followed by Bunnie. Sally took one as well and slid down. Rotor and Antoine slid, with the latter screaming in fear.
Uncle Chuck kicked open a panel and landed safely, Valentina landing next to him. Sonic landed between them as did Sophia. "So what are we looking for, Uncle Chuck?"
"Yeah, what's so urgent that we have to come all the way down here?" Sophia glanced around in confusion.
"It's something you both gotta see with your own eyes."
"Then perhaps you'll see things our way," Valentina added in as Bunnie landed behind them. Uncle Chuck and the queen pulled open the door together.
"Check it out, Sonny."
The two stepped in and could finally see what was so important. "Oh, man!" Inside the room was a giant crystal that filled up the middle of the room. Not only that, but it was tethered to several cables that lead to the ceiling. "That is large!"
"But wait," Sophia shook her head in confusion, turning to the two robots. "Why exactly are Robotnik's forces here for it? What's so special about this crystal?"
"Robotnik is mining the Energy Crystal to replace his limited oil supply," Uncle Chuck told the group. "They're hostin' it outta here today! We have to stop it!"
"What'll happen if they do get it out?" Bunnie questioned them curiously.
"Removing that active crystal will destroy the whole eco-system."
"Imagine if you will, child, if someone surgically removed your powers from your body," Valentina explained to her daughter, who gasped sharply at the example.
"That's awful! Everything will be lifeless...we can't let that happen!" She clenched a fist.
"You're right, we do have to stop Robotnik...but how?" Sally stepped up a bit.
"Only one way," Uncle Chuck turned around and pointed up ahead. "We shut him down here, and at the control center. Sal, that's where you come in."
"Okay," She nodded with a small smile. "Let's do it!"
"That's it, Sal," Uncle Chuck explained as they were peeking over units. Up ahead was a door, and of course it couldn't be too easy because it was guarded by a Swat-Bot.
"The control center?" She whispered to him.
"Right, that's where you gotta cut the main power circuits. Sonny, Sophia, after you get them, come on back here."
"You got it!" Sonic stood up confidently.
"Okay!" Sophia nodded in determination.
"You must hurry," Valentina urged them, and for good reason, because both robots didn't seem too hot.
"Uncle Chuck, you feelin' okay?" Sonic asked in concern.
"Mother?!" Sophia flinched in concern, bending down to the robot.
"Fine. Don't worry about us, we don't have much time."
Sophia glanced at Sonic, and both of them agreed that they would worry about it later. "We're outta here! Come on, Soph!"
The two ran off and Sonic distracted the bot by throwing his bag. He looked down at it. "Hey leadhead!" The robot immediately fired at him, but he held up a mirror to deflect it. "Back at cha!" The laser completely disabled the robot, who fell into the abyss below.
The duo waved the rest of the team forward, who ran down the walkway, taking the lead towards the door. But then it started to open, causing all of them to gasp in alarm. They quickly went into hiding as a Swat-bot walked down the path, who didn't look back to see them basically touching the wall. The others ran inside, leaving behind Sonic and Sophia.
"Hey, electro-breath! Get ready for a laser lunch!"
Sophia rolled her eyes in amusement as a Swat-bot fired at them. Sonic ducked out of the way while Sophia used her laser eyes to fire back the laser it fired. It knocked him all the way down to the ground and she pumped her fists.
"Yeah!"
"Way past cool, Soph!" Sonic held out his hand and they shared a high-five.
"Thank you, Sonic."
Meanwhile, Sally, Rotor, and Antoine were hiding in a hallway. "Slice of pie, n'cest pas?" Antoine asked as he ran forward.
"Antoine, it's a piece of cake," Rotor corrected him.
"Yes, I'm happy this is so," He said gladly, running forward with them just as a door closed up ahead.
Uncle Chuck, Sonic, Bunnie, Sophia, and her mother climbed down to the ground. "I'll go first," The robotic hedgehog volunteered.
"Careful, Uncle Chuck!" Sonic warned him as the robot landed safely. The other four landed nearby. "What's next, Uncle Chuck?" He asked as the place started shaking. Sophia flinched, looking around as Bunnie and Sonic gasped.
"What is that?!" Sophia asked in surprise, looking down at her feet.
"You're about to meet the most powerful bot of all," Uncle Chuck answered her.
Out stepped out a very large dinosaur-like robot. "Man, that is one serious bot!" Sonic commented at it.
"It's a dino-bot, a deadly planet-devouring machine."
"If we do not stop this, Robotnik will rule the galaxy with it," Valentina informed them.
"We're not letting that happen," Sophia answered in determination.
"But I wish that dude was on our side," Sonic added in.
"That's our plan, Sonic! But first we gotta get to its controls, inside. Just follow us." Uncle Chuck jumped and landed first, Valentina floating down. The other three glanced at each other a bit skeptically, but jumped at the same time, landing on the back of the robot. It came to a stop and the dino-bot opened its mouth, slamming on the ground. It knocked all of them off their feet, to their surprise. They slid down and landed on the nose, the bot lifting up its head. It then slammed down on the dirt again to try and knock them off. Only Valentina and Uncle Chuck were thrown off, however.
The other three hung on for dear life as the two robots looked up. "See you inside!"
The dino bot opened its mouth and then swallowed up the two robots. "Uncle Chuck!"
"Mom!"
"Oh my stars, do we have to do that?!" Bunnie exclaimed in shock.
"I could fly us in," Sophia suggested to them.
"No problem, come on," Sonic and Bunnie slid down, holding onto the jaws. Sophia flew over and grabbed their hands, floating in front of the mouth. She managed to help them inside and they stared down the jaw, a bit anxious. After all, they didn't even know what was down there...
"Oh, I hate this part!" Bunnie confessed to her friends.
"Let's go, Sonny boy!"
"Over here, Sophia!"
The dino bot was about to close its mouth when the three ran over, trying to keep it open but failing. Then the dino bot started swinging around to throw them off again. They all yelped in alarm, hanging onto the back of the mouth.
"Bunnie, can't you jam its jaws open?!" Sonic called out.
"I'll sure give it a try, sugar hog!" Bunnie went over to the side and held it up with her robot hand. She struggled to keep her grip, gritting her teeth as she looked up. "Come on, move!" She managed to pry it open, getting the jaws stuck to her relief.
"Alright, Bunnie!"
"Excellent!" Sophia clapped for her.
"Now let's find Uncle Chuck and Valentina!" Sonic grabbed their arms and ran off with them down the dino-bot.
Sally, Rotor, and Antoine had found the room they had to find, but the part they needed to get to was being guarded, of course. "The main control panel is just beyond that bot," They crawled underneath the control panel. The guard robot stood right in front of them, but walked off. However, something blinking from its foot did give Sally an idea. "Rotor, there's a toggle switch on his foot!"
They crawled after the bot, who was simply working. Once they were closer, Sally glanced at her friends. "I'll get him to turn, you flip the switch," Rotor whispered, getting onto his feet. He walked over and tapped the bot, who reacted by stepping forward before Sally could push it. The robot started to attack Rotor, who ducked his head, but was grabbed by the hand. "Hey! Whoa! Sally, hit the switch!"
The bot aimed its weapon right at Rotor, who gasped sharply. Sally ran over and pressed the button. "Got it!"
"Gringo!" Antoine exclaimed happily.
"Antonie, it's Bingo, not Gringo," Rotor corrected him wearily, but his arm was still stuck. "Let go, tinhead!" He managed to slip his arm free and fell onto the floor. "Whoa!"
"Over here!" Sally ran past the robot and he followed after her.
The dino bot was starting to overreact due to the stuck jaws. "This bot's flipped out, Uncle Chuck!" Sonic exclaimed as they were standing inside of the robot's mechanisms.
"Let's hope he doesn't clear his throat," Uncle Chuck grabbed a switch.
"That hope is very felt," Valentina murmured to herself.
"Amen to that," Bunnie commented as Uncle Chuck failed to pull the switch. Unfortunately, he just didn't have the upper body strength unlike Bunnie. Valentina grabbed it and pulled with him, but it still wasn't enough.
"Let me give you two a hand there," Bunnie stepped forward and pulled the lever herself. "There ya go."
The dino bot then shut down after this process. "Thanks Bunnie," Uncle Chuck thanked her.
"Truly remarkable strength," Valentina complimented her.
"It's nothing, Vallie!" Bunnie smiled up at the alien woman, who looked a bit surprised by the nickname. But then she gave a small grin, not hating it.
"Now let's figure out how to control this baby," The robotic hedgehog turned back to the control panel.
"Control it to do what?" Sonic asked in confusion.
"Yes, what exactly are we having it do?" Sophia added in, just as confused as him.
"To chop suey those cables!" Uncle Chuck answered them, pointing towards outside. He then pulled out a computer of sorts from one of the panels. "Yes! The control board. Now let's see if dino-bot will work for us."
He reached out to it, but then a shake occurred, catching all of them off guard. "What's that?"
"The cranes! We gotta work fast." Uncle Chuck stated while the Swat-bots were already getting the Crystal out. It lifted up to the exit up above. He grabbed a phone and contacted the Control Center. "Come on Sally, pick up!"
From their end, Sally was staring at the control panel, the deactivated robot standing nearby. "Good job, Sal! Now shut down the mine's main circuits."
"Okay, but I don't see a control panel for the cranes!" She explained as she took a look around. Nothing looked like anything to stop them.
"Must be separate, keep lookin'!"
"Will do," She then hung up, pressing some buttons above their heads. "Maybe one of these..."
Uncle Chuck pressed some buttons as well. "Now, let's get this T-bot crankin'. Hit it, Bunnie!" She pulled the lever up and re-activated the dino-bot. It stood up and rolled quickly towards the crystal, the Swat-bots running away from it. "This t-bot's working for us now!" Uncle Chuck told the others, who were smiling.
"Alright!"
"Rightfully so," Valentina nodded in determination.
The crane was still lifting up the crystal, which they could see from the screens. "Better juice, Uncle Chuck! Those cranes are startin' to rip the old crystal!"
The dino-bot moved until it was right next to the ropes and then reached out. "Large move, shred that sucker!"
Unfortunately, a few ropes grabbed the claw to prevent it from moving, and it was pulled back. This was because the Swat-bots had gathered their equipment to stop the dino-bot from ruining everything. They continued shooting ropes at the claw to pull it further back away from the crystal. The robots then fastened their ropes to the ground.
"The claw is down!" Sonic exclaimed as they gave shocked looks.
"We'll have to use the laser drill to destroy the crystal! Vallie or Sophia's lasers are too strong that it'll melt it," Uncle Chuck got to work on activating it, and the laser drill came to life, striking the crystal. But it didn't work as a yellow protective layer appeared on the crystal, destroying any effective chance of stopping it. "The crystal absorbed the laser energy!"
The bot started to shake due to the Swat-bots, the crystal almost out into the sky.
"What do we do now?!" Sophia asked in a panic, turning to Chuck.
"We've got to take out those cables!" The laser drill was aimed at the ropes, snapping one off. Then it started to lower due to the weight. The dino bot was trying to free itself while the Swat-bots were still aiming their ropes. The five braced themselves from the shaking and sparks that occurred.
More rope was being used from wenches to hold down the bot, the group trying to keep their grip steady. The dino bot eventually lowered its head, the crystal reaching the roof.
"This is it..." Uncle Chuck murmured, getting their attention. "We cut it loose now or Mobius is finished!"
"We must see this through!" Valentina clenched her fists in determination. The dino bot came back to life, firing and snapping off another rope. Eventually, because of the weight, the crystal fell and landed with a thump, having broken off by the pulley. The pulley itself fell along with it.
"We did it, Sonny boy!"
"Yes!" Sonic, Sophia, and Bunnie cheered in unison, pumping their fists. "All right!"
"Now we gotta hook up with the others and get out of here."
"And then we can find Father," Sophia said optimistically, Valentina hugging her.
"And then we can finally be reunited as a family..."
The others smiled at the family moment before they ran off to go find their friends.
A button flashed over their heads back in the Control Center. "That's it, everything is shut down except for emergency power. Let's get back to the elevator!"
The trio ran off while the others rushed out of the dino bot. "Let's go, let's go!" Uncle Chuck led them out of there, the group being fired at by Swat-bots.
The others ran down the runway, Sally glancing down to see the others coming up. They entered the elevator and the doors closed.
Sonic, Sophia, Bunnie, Uncle Chuck, and Valentina hid behind a mine cart, the Swat-bots closing in on them. They braced themselves from the lasers, Sonic pointing upwards. He then pushed the mine cart using his super speed with them in it, reaching the elevator just as the others arrived. They jumped out and made a break for it. They then backed up inside, closing the door.
They emerged into the train station to be met with a train car to their surprise. "There's our ride out of here!"
The group ran towards the train car, both Uncle Chuck and Valentina snarling as they kneeled. Sonic and Sophia immediately turned around, running up to them in concern. "Uncle Chuck? What's up?"
"Mother?" Sophia shook her arm gently.
"Uncle Chuck?"
They got no answer in return; Uncle Chuck simply took out the ring used to save them, and it was out of power. "Oh man!"
"No!" Sophia gasped in realization and horror.
"It's alright, Sonic, we saved Mobius..." Uncle Chuck handed back the ring. "That's the important thing..."
"And we got to see you both again..." Valentina gave a weak smile.
"It's not okay!" Sophia frowned in worry.
"We've gotta get you guys back to Knothole, warp seven!"
"It's too..." Uncle Chuck held his head, Valentina hanging her head. "It's too late, Sonic..."
"Find your father, Sophia. Give him my love..."
"...Chuck?" Sophia murmured as there was no response.
"Vallie?" Sonic wondered, and the two robots growled at them. "No way are we leaving you two here!"
"Sonic, Soph, they've turned back," Sally called out to them, the two acting feral like before.
"You've gotta come with us!" Sonic pleaded, Sophia trying not to cry.
"Mom...this isn't you. Just come with us and we'll find a way to fix this, to get you back with Dad, everything!"
"Sonic! Sophia!" Sally stated in worry as the Swat-bots had caught up with them unfortunately.
Chuck and Valentina grabbed their family members, starting to shake them. "Uncle Chuck!"
"Mom!"
Bunnie and Sally ran back, grabbing them. "Come on, sugarhog!"
"Before we all get captured!" Sally stated, the two pulling them back.
"Uncle Chuck!"
"Mom!" Sophia cried out, trying to break free.
"Soph, Sonic, we have to leave them!" Sally told them, the train starting to leave. The two robots then pointed down the railroad, but it was too small for the ship to get through, so they had to give up. Sonic had his eyes covered as the two were now traumatized by what just happened. They had just reunited with them, only for them to turn on the ones they loved...and it wasn't even their fault, it was just the way it worked with the Roboticizer.
"We shoulda saved them..." Sonic whispered sadly, Bunnie and Sally surrounding him.
"And what's worse...my mom might never see my father again..." Sophia murmured, hugging herself. Rotor placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.
"Y'all did what you could, honey, we couldn't bring them back. They're loyal to Robotnik," Bunnie tried to assure them.
"We'll get them back another day, you guys. Promise," Sally sat between the two of them, hands on their shoulders.
"Yeah, and look what we did with Uncle Chuck and Vallie; we totaled that crystal!" Rotor pointed out.
"C'est magnifique!" Antoine added in.
"You know, I was able to copy some of the Roboticizer software. One day we'll be able to change Valentina and Uncle Chuck back...permanently." The two looked down towards the ground after hearing Sally's explanation. Because it just meant that they'd have to wait to see them again...and Sophia had only had her parents roboticized for a few days...
"Along with all our families."
"Hang in Uncle Chuck and Vallie..." Sonic declared with tears still streaming down his face. "We'll be back..."
Once they returned to Knothole, Sophia sat on a log in front of the lake, looking sad. Her mother only wanted to be back with her father, and yet she didn't get that wish...all three of them had wanted to return back home, and instead, she didn't have her parents and they were still slaves to Robotnik. If her mother was any indication, even if she did find her father, he would be in the very same state as her and Chuck. She didn't know how her friends at Knothole did it; how they could stomach this kind of pain enough to continue on missions.
None of them asked for this life...and she hated not having her parents around in a place that wasn't her home.
"Soph?" She glanced at Sonic approaching and he sat down next to her. "You okay?"
"Sonic...this process of being roboticized...it disgusts me," Sophia confessed, gripping at her skirt. "How...how long have people lived with their family members, their loved ones, like this? How do they deal with feeling so alone, in a place that's unfamiliar to them now...?"
Sonic blinked at her as he realized that their situations were entirely the same...minus the fact that Sophia was an alien and he had to tell her what roboticization meant. And there were some things that she still didn't understand about their world.
"By fighting against Robuttnik," He finally answered, placing a hand on her back. "But...it's gonna be okay, Soph. I promise, we'll get your parents back and to normal too."
"...Thanks," She sniffled, wiping at her nose with her sleeve. They looked up towards the sun, having hope for the future...