ACT III
Interlude II
A few days prior...
"I don't know why he is avoiding me! Was he not among you cheering when I stepped out of Rotor's machine?" The lynx was playing with her ears nervously as one drooped at an awkward angle. She adjusted herself at the foot of Sally's massive bed in her hut, feet dangling off the ground. As she kicked at the air, the chipmunk that she had known forever moved up alongside her, propping herself on the bed as well.
"I don't know, Nicole. I tried to explain to him what happened while were in the virtual world with you. Maybe it was too soon..." Sally gave her longtime friend a long hug, which caused to AI to relax somewhat.
The artificial one walked over to the bedroom and peered outside at a star filled sky. Her visual processors glowed in the night as she took in the sight. "It is beautiful, Sally. I traced their patterns to better align myself and map out the world better. Yet, something about their light speaks to me..."
The auburn-haired lady hopped off the bed and joined her friend. "Yeah, it's been awhile since I looked up at them as well. Duty before pleasure, I guess."
Nicole brought her hands up to her chin, cradling her head with her knuckles. "Well, I think we need to show Tails this. To know that he can trust me as a fellow living being."
Curiously, the chipmunk laughed at this statement. "Stop being so literal, Nicole. You're only going to scare him off!"
"That is not funny." The lynx fixed her with a glare.
"You're doing it again. Look, Sonic tells me I need to stop being so serious all the time. When I see that expression coming from you, I think I'm beginning to understand." The AI pouted and huffed as her gaze turned back to the stars.
"They will see that I can be more than just a machine, Sally."
Chapter 9
"You stay here! I command you! The trial will take place here, in my chambers!" Lazaar pleaded with the being known as Iron Nicole as she rose out of his Keep with the group gripped by her black tendrils. She shot him a toothy grin with teeth set in sharp angles. "Drat."
"Old man, you knew the dangers by releasing me from my crystal prison. Now let me do my job." She stated coldly, with just a hint of malice.
"No, stop this! Please!" Nicole pleaded with her double to no effect as they crested the roof. Rain began to fall in dots across the metal swamp outside. "Guys, I am sorry about all of this. I wanted to prove my abilities as a Freedom Fighter and look where it got us!"
These words elicited low laughter from the false AI, as she shot a devious smile at the one she copied. "No, I have to thank you for holding onto these feelings. The way that boy looks at you with fear. The rumors that had spread about your past! The hatred that you have for your own weakness!"
"Whoa. Nicole, I kinda had an idea you were working some heavy things out, but I thought that was behind you!" The lynx averted her gaze from Sonic and looked downward as they were sent gently just outside Lazaar's Keep,
It was Tails turn to speak, as he ran over to check on the despondent AI. "No, I shoulda been up front with you. I know you're cool with everyone, but I can't think of you without also thinking of..."
"Me...?" The double crept up alongside the fox as Sally instinctively pulled him away. "Aw, don't be like that. He just has some -bad- memories, that's all!"
A sudden burst of static shock flung Iron Nicole away as the real deal stepped up beside the group. "We're not doing this. I -created- you...somehow. A literal living nightmare. I'll deal with you myself!" With that, the lynx flung herself at the other as they clawed and scraped at each other!
Dark tendrils attempted to meet the AI's body, now covered in sparks and recoiled! "Nice try, you worthless amalgamation! Let's see how long you last!"
"Ready, Sonic?" The blue hedgehog turned to the boy, who stood there with a determined look. "She's right you know. It's that Sally-bot. I can't look at Nicole and not see that thing going off to hurt my family. That's why..."
"Yo, we get it. It was a good thing you brought me that ring, but it's gonna take all of us to bring it down!" The two shared a fist bump as Sally rolled her eyes.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm in too." Bunnie and Rotor came up beside the two of them.
"Count us in as well!" Rotor shouted.
"Same, y'all. Let's do it to it!" Bunnie yelled, as everyone put their fists together in solidarity.
–
"Want to see something interesting?" Beams shot out of Iron Nicole's eyes, piercing the shoulder of the real one!
Screaming loudly as her pain receptors fired, she turned off her dampeners revealing the light of her glowing heart! "AGH...!" The double grabbed at her eyes in pain, blinding by the sudden illumination.
The double's own receptors went into overdrive as a metal fist collided with her face! "Ugh... Two can play at that game."
Numerous tendrils struck Nicole, denting her frame around her joints. Her heart flickered for a moment as she shot a beam out from her finger, which the simulacrum easily dodged. "Tsk tsk. You still haven't worked on your aim. Time's ticking, Nicole."
Chapter 10
"YEE-HA!" Bunnie whooped as a massive line formed behind her. Her good arm was wrapped around Sonic as he sped forward. The metal one held Rotor's in a unbreakable grip as she balanced on Nicole's board. "You're right, this is fun!"
Finding themselves at the entry of the Forbidden Zone, they all piled into the Stormer. Rotor took the pilot seat once more and searched around for his goggles. "So, which one of you took it?"
Sonic and Bunnie answered in unison. "Tails."
"Oh... Duh, I knew that. Got the plan memorized?" He stated, trying to shift the topic of the conversation.
"Yeah! This is gonna be fun!" Sonic shouted as the plane prepped for liftoff.
Bunnie was considerably less enthused. "I dunno, it's still sounds rough. Gonna be fishing stuff outta my ears for weeks."
–
Tails gripped Sally's hands as they lifted off into the sky with jet-pack assistance. They checked on Lazaar prior only to find him unconscious nearby as the situation continued to get more and more desperate by the second!
"Tails. Once we get to position on top of the keep, wait for my signal!" The amber fox nodded as they cleared the "face" of the keep.
"Got it Sally. I'll let you handle luring that dark double up here!" He flew over to a conspicuously sharp horn on the roof, dropping her off.
–
Nicole managed to find a hiding spot near the prone body of the wizard, and desperately tried to wake the old man. Self-repair was going slow and took a toll on the artificial lynx. Her "Iron" half howled in anger, "Hiding again!? You'll never get over what you did them and what you will continue to do to others!"
"Shut up..." The AI muttered under her breath as Lazaar finally began to come to. "Oh!"
"Taking quite the beating, you have..." He brought his eyes up to hers and smiled weakly. "Always was going to happen, this was."
"What are you talking about? She is clearly using powers I brought to life in a virtual world of my own making! How is this even remotely possible?" Her queries were answered back by a pained laugh.
"Magic, Nicole. Been chosen to inherit it, you have!" The lynx continued to stare at him in confusion.
"Come out here and face your destiny, little girl! Or are you going to let me deal with all of your friends first!?" She peered around the corner to see the simulacrum floating in the air and memories flooded through her brain.
Chapter 11
Time slowed down to a crawl as Nicole went over previous events of the past couple weeks in quick succession. Firstly, contracting that horrible virus.
"Nicole...? What's happening to you...?" Sally's voice echoed through her digital brain. A lot apparently, but there was more to come...
Fusing with the remnants of that doppelganger who took on the guise of her best friend, through the use of the Deep Power Stones. The pain that she felt when being introduced to all those emotions.
"We will forge a world of true peace. Just us and the boy. Trust me." The robotic duplicate's eerie familiar cadence rung through her ears as if she just heard those words yesterday.
Tails stepping forward to give her the chance to make things right, which led to her eventually going back to being a simple handheld.
"If you want to go on protecting me, like you wanted, then everyone else needs to live too! I can't go on knowing everybody I care about is gonna bite it! You both know that!" Those words she took to heart. They gave her strength whenever she felt weak.
Sonic stepping forward to get her back to her "body", trusting that she would make the right decision!
"We couldn't get to were we are today if wasn't for our friends. Our family. Without you, Nicole!" Why did I doubt for a second in them? Never again. That trust was something that should have never been broken!
She stood to her feet and faced the being without fear. "Good, you are beginning to understand." The wizard let out a whooping cough as he spoke. There were others out there currently suffering who needed my help. The Freedom Fighters needed my help as well!
"There was more to the ancient Lynx of the Mountains than mere fortune telling. They always supported us no matter what, up until they were all roboticized. You carry their torch. Never forget that!" I won't Lupe! I know you are counting on me!
As she rushed out from her hiding place at last, she gasped as she saw the false Nicole creep over towards the auburn-haired chipmunk who stood on the roof of the Keep! "Sally...! Hold on, I'm coming!" Charging static into her feet with the assistance of the rain, she ran up the side of the building as fast as she could muster!
Chapter 12
"Tails, is it ready? I think she noticed me!" Sally shouted, trying to get the young fox's attention. He came back with a long wire in his hands. "Lucky you decided to "borrow" Rotor's stuff, hm...?" Oh my gosh, thank you both for at least having some foresight!
Both of them froze as Iron Nicole crested the hill with a menacing stare teeth gleaming in the flashes of the rainstorm. Her red eyes pierced into their soul. "Decided to stick around. Good. Your screams will draw out my other half!"
Tails shook his head and gripped his legs to stop them from shaking. Turned to his parental figure, he shouted, "Sally, let's get outta here!" Grabbing the chipmunk around the waist and igniting the jet-pack once more, the two barely avoided more tendrils as they rocketed toward the spike jutting out of the roof! "Bothersome creatures. Why don't they ever just stand still?"
The lynx in the black dress found herself suddenly on the floor of the roof, static arcing from her back! "Keep an eye on your target, faker." The one who struck her hung in mid-air with one leg outstretched in front of her.
Hissing, Iron Nicole kipped up to her feet and turned to the beaten up AI with teeth bared. Waves of static spread out as the real Nicole landed and sped past her, skating across the ground. "Catch me if you can!"
"Challenge accepted."
–
"Wow, look at that Sonic!" Rotor pointed downward at the fracas below. Sonic peered out the window and watched as the nightmare Nicole chased everyone across the roof, black tendrils stabbing out to and fro!
"Man, when is it my turn? I'm waiting...!" Bunnie pulled him back inside with a stern look.
"This plan had better work, sugar-hog. I've seen ya do some crazy stunts with that power ring before, but this pushing it!" Her ears were completely frizzed out.
The hedgehog had never seen her so nervous. "Sorry, Bunnie. Just trust me on this, okay? At least I'm not the one piloting the plane!"
The rabbot breathed a sigh of relief followed by a loud chuckle. "You really know how to cheer a gal up. I can see why you and Sally-girl are so close!"
Rotor pointed downward, redirecting their attention. "Okay, looks like everyone's in position. Here goes nothing!"
–
"Oh my gosh, Nicole!" Sally watched as the lynx kept short pace ahead of the furious doppelganger. "Over here...!"
As she made to her destination behind the horn, the AI looked upward, prompting everyone else to do the same. Two shapes fell out of the sky, golden energy arcing between them!
The simulacrum noticed too late that she had flew over the tip of the spire as the two shapes collided with her, impaling her on the spike. Her mouth opened to scream, but no noise came out. She looked down to see both hedgehog and rabbot rolling off the slope of the roof. Another climbed up with a familiar crystal in her hands. "You..."
"...Are not me. Never was. Now, kindly go back to the darkness of my subconscious where you belong." The lynx pressed a single button on the device.
"Lightning." Nicole spoke as she stared down her fear one last time. Several bolts struck the wire that Tails had set and the sheer power of the electric force surged through the false Nicole.
"No...! NO...! I won't go that easily!" Her features shifted and twisted as her form enlarged. The tendrils began to match the color of her body and became metallic in nature! Her eyes turned to a deathly white as she twisted her head to meet Nicole's. "I am your fear!"
Grabbing the lynx with her tendrils, the simulacrum drew the AI towards her gaping maw! Suddenly, two shapes burst through it, freeing Nicole from her grasp! "I gotcha, sugar!"
Bunnie cradled the wounded lynx in her hands, her metal arm dented in from the collision. She watched as Sonic ran circles around the terrifying construct, as more lightning arced across the sky. "Lets get the hip-hop outta here, Sonic!"
"No!" The simulacrum hissed, "Get back here...!" The blue blur stopped in front her and flicked her nose.
"Sorry. You lost. Get over it." He looked upward briefly as a flash overtook his vision. "See ya!"
Blood curdling screams rang out as the hedgehog back-flipped off of the makeshift lightning rod. The creature's form writhed under the shocking assault and eventually disintegrated to dust.
Chapter 13
"Thanks everyone... That was so not cool." Nicole weakly stated as she helped the old man inside. The old chamber of Lazaar was drenched in rain, and sparks sputtered throughout the old lair.
The others followed closely behind with Rotor landing the Freedom Stormer nearby. The tired lynx lay him in his sleeping pod and listened in close. "His breathing is getting shallow."
Bunnie cupped her hands over her mouth and Sonic shook his head with a frown. Sally and Tails walked up beside the AI, who watched his eyes flutter open.
"Overdid it this time, I have..." He muttered with great effort. "Nicole. You passed your final test with ease."
The artificial lynx laughed incredulously. "Easy he says! It took everything we had to destroy that spell of yours!"
"Ah, but you learned the lesson it took me centuries to realize. Not yours alone, the burden is. Sometimes..." He coughed and stroked his beard, possibly for the last time. "A task is so great that it needs to be shared to be overcome..." He pointed at the hedgehog, who looked around himself in response.
"Come off it, old-timer. I thought the lesson was don't rely on your speed, but your brains. Way uncool man." The hedgehog laughed nervously and shot him a brave grin.
"Is he gonna...?" Tails could not finish his sentence. He already watched another pass away before his eyes. Sally embraced him gently and kissed him on the cheek.
"What is my next task, Lazaar?" The elderly wizard turned to regard Nicole, who whimpered the words through condensed "tears".
"Fill that vessel with good magic, you must. Should be easy, since it all starts with binary, if you believe it!" The bearded one laughed and paid for it with a harsh cough.
"So it's true magitech then... Fascinating!" The lynx lit up at this as possibilities flowed through her mind. She was startled as she felt his hand go limp in her palm. "Lazaar...?"
His eyes were closed and the chipmunk drew her in close as well.
"Wow. So long, old-timer. It was fun knowing ya..." Sonic said, as the despondent group filed out of the Keep, which at long last lay dormant.
–
"I was never good with funerals.", Rotor replied as they stood at a gravestone just outside of Knothole, with the words "Lazaar and his Guardian. Two old but cool dudes." engraved upon it. He took off his hat for a brief moment, bowed and left the service, heading toward his workshop. "Now to take account for lost materials."
"I will honor your memory. You were truly heroes in the end." Nicole said aloud, gripping the crystal in her palms. It glowed with a tell-tale green glow. The young fox moved up beside her and tugged at her purple dress.
"Hey, Nicole. Let's go back to my place. Bunnie and Sally are cooking dinner for us!" She turned to him and ran her fingers through his hair. "Oh man, cut it out Nicole!"
"I wonder what's on the menu, Tails?" Sonic came up to the two with a massive smile on his face. "Oh! Is that what I think it is?" A curious grin began to form.
"The first and best chili-dogs you will ever have. Trust me!"
END OF THE FINAL ACT
Author's Notes:
Uh, look up the beginning of Sonic Archie #219 for why I chose this particular trial. These comics can be kinda spooky sometimes!
Also, sorry for the short story this time but I figured it would be easier to digest. It really is a culmination of Nicole's story so far. Things will go back to somewhat normal come next time!