CHAPTER 17
Insurrection
Somewhere out in the valley of the Great Unknown beyond the Great Gulf was a concentration camp built by Dr. Robotnik. One of the many spread out across Mobius. Where stragglers where rounded up, and forced into slavery. Eventually, each of them would be sent off to meet their final fate in Robotropolis if they survived the camps. Beside the camp was the ruins of the human city Megacentral. Not too long ago a colony of humans landed on Mobius hoping to live peacefully with the Mobians but only to be betrayed by one of their own kind.
They were put to work as slaves picking away at the dead cities ruins. Plans were for the place to be torn down and have Robotnik's factories expanded upon the territory. The doctor had no love for his own race. They condemed his scientific achievements as monstrous, and unethical. Inside the concentration camp was an underground prison, where Antoine was being held. He had been a long time enemy of Robotnik. He had always been on the run eluding him and was the first to be able to get into his cities to cause some damage. Eventually, like everyone else, he was caught. He had managed to take out a great of robots with his trusty sword but one ripped his arm clean off.
From a direct command from Robotnik, they couldn't let him die. He was patched up, and then thrown behind bars. During his days of waiting in his cell he managed to grab his sword that was confiscated from him. Using what a close friend had taught him in the past, he contrusted himself a new arm out of anything he could get his hands on. All he had to work with was mostly broken SWaT Bot pieces. He eventually was able to contruct himself something that could work. The robots didn't seem to care what he was up to, as long as he didn't try to escape. He crafted a metal ball joint for a shoulder with two cables wrapped around eachother. Antoine had mounted his sword to the end of these cables for a sorry looking make-shift arm.
However it was very useful. It was quick and fluid in its movements, and he gave it an electric charge that could shoot limited amounts of electricity from the blade. He had found an old spartan helmet and shield that served him that he kept on him at all points. Another sign of bad A.I. from the guards. For clothing, all he wore were two ridiculous looking epaulettes that jutted far past his shoulders, and a pair of knee high red boots. All Antoine had to do now was just wait for the right moment and he'd plan his escape.
Meanwhile Sally and the others were approaching the city from the southern end. Sally looked on and saw men, women, children, and elderly alike being beaten and punished forced to drag metal carts full of rubble. One of the old collapsed from exaustion.
" P-please...I need water.. " he begged.
The Swat Bot just blasted him over and over with stun beams until the old man forced himself up and picked up the rope and tugged at it some more. Sally looked off to the side and saw a ship dumping dead bodies of the humans into a great pit where they were to be burned. Sally felt their pain tearing at her heart. Looking at the dead bodies of children among them made her stomach heave. She hurled her guts out till she gagged.
" What kind of man would do this to his own kind " said Bunnie, horrified.
" These humans dont deserve this. The man who has done such a despecible act...he is the one who has made Mother Mobius sick. He is the one who has made my family dissapear and bring fear to all those who dwell here. I will stop this. "
Lupe marched out into the open tripping an alarm. The Swat Bots stopped and came rushing over.
" INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT! "
Lupe took her hammer and smashed the head off one of them while coming down on one that tried to shoot her in the back crushing it like a pop can. Sally and Bunnie joined in trashing the Swat Bots. Bunnie effortlessly took them down swinging her sword around, taking enjoyment in some mindless carnage. While they were doing this Sally was busy unchaining the old man.
" Bless you, child " he said, collapsing onto her. She had no time for TLC treatment and went over to unchain the rest.
As she unchained them they began unchain the rest but then one cried out. " Run! Save yourself! "
Sally looked up ahead and saw a fleet of Swat Bots riding towards them in machine horses. Sally ran back to Lupe who had a growing pile of trashed Swat Bots underneath her. Bunnie was swinging away on her sword taking out wave after wave of oncoming Swat Bots but they kept pouring in like a swarm of locusts. Forced to run, Bunnie grabbed Lupe and and Sally and took to the air in her rocket boots. That didnt stop the machines from chasing after them on the ground. They fired away into the air at them, aiming systems not working as well in the air than on the ground. One pulled out a large mounted machine gun and began firing. Bunnie had to fly higher into the sky to escape their range.
" Jus' keep hanging on, suga's! Don't wanna fall from here! "
" The first thing thats gonna change around this neighborhood here is the paint! " said Bunnie, firing a tiny missle at the camp dome blowing a hole in it. Rubble from the collapsed ceiling came crashing down inside destroying many sentries. Antoine was listening to the explosions going outside wondering what is going on. Then suddenly the wall beside blew down with a flaming Swat Bot in the rubble. Antoine quickly made his escape slashing apart Swat Bots along the way. He had managed to reach the elevator as the stragglers were hot on pursuit. He finally was able to escape but he was curious whom helped him. He looked up at the sky and saw Bunnie and the others attacking. He ducked behind a rock and was very impressed. He had never seen someone who could stand up to Robotnik's forces and hold their own.
" Very interesting...! "
He decided to follow them out of his curiosity. They appeared to be on his side. Bunnie touched down behind some buildings.
" Sheesh! They are pesky " said Bunnie.
" They're a lot more potent than the ones I remember " said Sally.
" We have got to free these prisoners! " said Lupe.
" From what I remember...when Robotnik had stations set up outside Robotropolis the Swat Bots all ran on the main power generator. So there might be one around here somewhere. "
" But where ya'll suppose we're going to find this? "
" I believe ah can help zee with that, monami! " said a voice from behind.
They turned and looked at Antoine revealing himself to them. He must have looked quite the odd sight. Wearing ancient armor, with a sword for an arm.
" Antoine..? Is that you " Sally asked. She couldn't believe her luck. Of all the places they happen to be, she was lucky to find him here. The fates had smiled on this day.
" Ah, so you already know my name but I do not know yours. Perhaps vwe have met in previous life, non? "
Lupe raised her eyebrow and looked at Sally. " This is the one you've been looking for? This is Antoine? "
Bunnie laughed.
"Vwat! Vwat is so funny!" Antoine said, feeling quite offended.
" You sure are a strange one, sugah. "
" Sugar? I am not sugar you fewl! I am zee all mighty Antoine the great! I am Robotnik's how you zay, mortal nemesis? "
Sally couldnt help but laugh as well. Same old Antoine. One thing you could never take away from him was that adorable bad accent.
" I overheard you wish to fight Robotnik. An enemy of mine enemy iz my friend. I would be glad to join some beautiful ladies for zee glorious fight ahead. Who knows, perhaps one of you would even bear a child once we are done~? "
Lupe growled and grabbed Antoine and held him up off the ground.
" Waah! I was kidding! T'is was a joke, yes? "
" Listen here. We don't have time for your bravado, or for your jokes. This woman here has been looking for you for a long time and gone through a lot to find you. You should thank her for helping to break you out of this place. We all have the same goal in mind. "
" Um, yes I could zee by your marvelous fighting back zhere, monami. "
" You said you knew where the power station was...is that true? "
" Eh? Vhy yes! I can show you. T'is not far! "
With that Antoine began to lead them away from the city towards some oceanside cliffs. As they walked Bunnie looked back at the city and a memory suddenly came flooding back in. She remembered that tall stranger who saved her that told her to bring the princess to the city. She didn't trust him then, and with all things considered, it would be best if she mentioned this now.
" Uh...Sally girl? "
" Yes, Bunnie? "
Bunnie told her the story. The story of how this mysterious stranger had saved her life back in Hirachi. That he instructed her to take her to this location. It seemed that they ended up at the destination regardless. Sally looked at Bunnie, and gave a cold shudder.
" Do you remember what he looked like? "
Bunnie described him to her in great detail as Sally's blood ran cold. The horrible memories of him drifted back into mind. She shook in fear.
" No...it cant be..he's dead. "
" Who ?
" Before I met you guys I had stumbled upon another kind of camp except it the prisoners inside were forced into a horrible circus show. It was ran horrible monster called Snively who was one of Robotnik's generals held me captive and killed Tails. I was able to kill him and escape that nightmare. When I was around him I would just feel his felt so cold and dark. It paralyzed me and now...he is alive still and no doubt he wants me. I just dont know if I can face him again."
Lupe put her hand on her shoulder. " Sally, from the time I met you I knew you were a good person who hadn't deserved this punishment that comes to you. If this man as you say truly lives, then we will face him together. I am begining to see this Robotnik's evil seems to have many shapes and faces. That strange man we dealt with back at the house said he worked for Robotnik, and now another one of his minions is after you. "
" Fear not, my dear. I know of zis Mr Snively. He is not but a man with a very long nose" said Antoine chiming in. " If we defeat zis foul villain it will no doubt loosen Robotnik's grip over this land! "
" Take us to the power station first that you promised " Lupe said.
" Err...by the way zee power station lies just beyond zat cliff over there " he said pointing to a dark citadel built on the farthest point out to sea. Sally shuddered when she saw the black stone tower but now felt safe now that her friends were by her side. Inside Mr Snively was spying on them, through one of the security surveillance systems.
" Yes...very good. Things couldnt turn out more convenient. It seemed I didn't need her after all. "
He opened a channel to Robotropolis on his computer awaking Robotnik from what looked like a good dream. He peered over and made a snarling motion with his face. " What is it Snively? This had better be important. "
" Oh it is, sir. The princess and her rag tag rebel friends are at my front door. "
" You had better not botch this assignment up Snively or it will be the end of you! " he said cutting him out. Mr Snively frowned ruffling his shoulders, uttering a low curse. He rose and entered to the next room and sat down in front of a fireplace on a large coushioned chair, surrounded by four other figures with him. The one closest to him and the tallest was Mr Cirus.
He was almost as tall as Mr Snively. He wore a black and white striped trenchoat of verticle lines. He was decorated in buckles wrapped around his chest and stomach. He wore the same kind of bow tie as Mr Snively but was the color red. He had a long pointy chin with a ring pierced through it that he would often play with out of habbit. His eyes were small and beady and had a tattoo of a upside down cross under his left eye. His skin was pure white and pasty with two pointy ears. His hair was black and long and stuck out to the sides with white streaks going through it to match his jacket. He had long claw-like fingers and a very ugly worm-like creature wrapped around his arm. It was his favorite pet that he went everywhere with.
Beside him was another partner. Mr 8 Ball. Almost completely the opposite of him. He was a stocky short little man with dark pink skin. He had a shiny bald head with big bumpy eyebrows. in the middle of his forehead was the number 8 engraved. Where his eyes should have been was only sockets with skin that grew overtop. He had a floppy fat neck with a black jacket that had kind of a gothic art detail to it. His right hand was gone, replaced with a mechanical two pronged claw for a hand. His fat stomach stuck out, with an enormous second mouth with huge gnashing teeth covering it.
And at last was the most mysterious one of the group, Mr Grim. Actually nobody really knew if Mr Grim was a male of a female. He had the look of a corpse to him but his vocals made it hard to figure out what gender he was. He had a flat white face with no nose, and slits for eyes. He wore a head dress that made him look very royal. He wore a tattered trenchoat with studded spikes covering ever inch of it.
All of these strangers were business partners of Snively and sub bosses who worked under Robotnik but now were pretty much abandoned and worked underground. This had been the first reunion they have ever had.
" I'm glad you could come, gentlemen. The show is about to begin! "
