CHAPTER 23
The Harvest
The growing band of Freedom Fighters had now set out shortly after with Rotor packing food supplies consisting mainly of fish, fruits, berries, and a three day supply of water. Antoine knew the path well, showing them a way out that cut their distance in half. As they walked the coyote striked up quiet conversation.
" So you say you'e come from another Mobius? " Antoine asked.
" Yes, it would appear so. I believe this is an alternate reality from where I am from " she responded, still taking it in.
" Do you remember how you got here? "
" I'm not sure. I just kind of woke up and I was here. I'm still trying to figure out how that all happend."
" Perhaps you were sent here to save us " Lupe said.
Sally gave a rueful laugh. " I can't even save my own world from what goes on. I can only do my best and hope everything works out. "
" Everything will work out " Rotor mumbled to himself in contemplation.
As they continued walking Lupe began to feel strange. As if a light ticklish sensation washed over her. She blinked and her vision began to blur. Colors began to mix, the air became heavy and her mind went white and then she began to experience what some call a tunnel out. She stared into the abyss that wrapped around her like a blanket breathing heavily fighting to keep her ears from going. Then, piercing the deafening blackness a powerful voice had called out. It was none other than the voice of the mysterious Mogul.
" You cannot see me but you are able to hear me. Listen well, young wolf child. "
Lupe had various meditations where she had heard the voices of spirits and other strange encounters but nothing compared to this. A thought occured which came to her lips.
" Are you the voice of Mother Mobius? "
Their was a short pause. " What I am transcends life, death, and time. What I am has no name " the voice responded.
" Are you a friend or foe? " she asked.
" A superfluous question. I come with a message to you, child. "
Lupe began to see twinkling lights emerge through the darkness. These lights were stars, and Lupe found herself floating through the infinite cosmos of space. All around her time seemed to speed up, watching the universe turn. The constallations shifted, new stars blinked out only for new ones to take their place. Images of fantastic civilizations birthing and dying at once, planets colliding to form new ones, spirits and souls thriving from every corner of existence.
" Behold, the power of the universe. The power of thought The ability to create something from nothing, a gift all life is bestowed upon. "
Lupe tried to understand these words, but a realization of dread fell over her.
" Am I dead? "
She could almost hear a smirk and a chuckle from him. " Far from it. "
Mogul then appeared before her in his large mammoth form, his large self towering over her. Lupe recognized his shape from cave paintings and realized he is very ancient. His large trunk rested over his chest, with his ivory tusks polished and gleaming, and silky toga wrapping around his stocky frame.
" What do you want with me me? " Lupe asked him.
His eyes glinted. " Your journey is almost at its end. The balance of power is shifting, and you will be witness to the great transition. Remember your foundation."
Lupe felt a tickling sensation, as Mogul faded into the light. Suddenly she found herself back on Mobius with present company. Antoine looked at her with some worry.
" Eez zee wolf witch sick? You look quite pale."
Lupe wiped the sweat from her brow, sucking in some air. " I'm fine. Must be bad berries I ate. "
Meanwhile Colin was begining to close in on their location. Riding his beloved bikes was one of the only thrills he could still get while having to work under his younger brothers grip. He felt the ground vibrate and shake, almost being flung off his bike. With a hard skid he came to a stop, bewildered. He felt another tremor more powerful than the last making the earth shake beneath him. The ground split apart, as a large crack began to open beneath his feet. His bike revved to life as the earth beneath gave way. A deep gash in the earth split open, now seperating him from his target. He sighed, pulling a long skinny cigerette and a silver lighter and lit up held the smoke in and then exhaled, a relaxed trail leaving his lips.
" Ah crap, this will take some time to get around. I guess the dangers of seismic activity must have slipped dear brothers mind!"
He now noticed that a long shadow was now cast over him, despite the sun being high in the sky and the land being vacant of any trees. Danger rushed to his realization as he moved.
" Shit! "
He dived and rolled away just missing an earth shattering strike from a large beast that was now upon him. Colin's eyes went wide as he looked upon the creature of what appeared to be a gigantic tentacle. The long limb was lined sharp hook-like claws for digging and tearing through the earth. The surface of it was covered in a oily black tar glistening in the pale sun. Its main body half seemed submerged in the ground from the hole it burst from, hidden from view.
" My, my, big sucker. I guess the shockwaves must have broken your beauty sleep. But I'm not in the mood for calimari. "
He cracked a grin and pulled out his shotgun. from the side and blasted away at the shots seemed to just dissapear inside the black mass. He fired away round after round at it, the creature seemingly unresponsive to the bullets. Colin hopped on his bike and hit the throttle, intending to ram it. Surprisngly he seemed to pass through the thing like it was air. As came out the other side he felt an icey shock to his heart.
Colin yelled out in shock, his eyes bulging and his chest heaving. He tasted blood inside his mouth feeling the bike give under him and his body thrown. He rolled with the fall minimizing the concussions and bruises to his body. His superhuman endurance kicked in and he sprang to his feet shrugging the pain off. He looked up at the odd black tentacle that seemed to shudder and evaporate into thin air. For a while Colin just stood there dazed at what that this strange encounter was, and if he should be worried of more appearing on his travels.
" Just when I think I'm used to this strange world I get a curve ball. Sometimes I miss the boring and ordinary" Colin said, resuming his mission hoping whatever came out was gone.
Robotnik was busy at work scanning through old Mobian texts to try to find answers. Originally scraped along the walls and passed down generation to generation were files of stories, myths, prophecies that seemed to all be pointing to something occurring. He was sure that he had read something in there before that seemed to match the crisis the planet was going through.
" Ah! This is it! This is what I've been looking for!" he said with excitement to his voice. He began to read the texts aloud to himself.
" The sky shall rise and the earth will fall,
When winds blow wrong and light is gone,
Apocalypse will die and Espylacopa will be born,
The last miracle will shine. "
He repeated this over and over to himself.
" Espylacopa...a clever mirror of apocalypse. But just what does it mean? "
All this work was exhausting to him. He could feel his concentration weaken, and his energy levels drop.
" Ah, I do believe it is time for my sustenance " he said.
The walls around him unfolded revealing levels upon levels of captured Mobians and humans imprisoned within glass tubes kept barely alive. Their were woman and children along with them of both races. Their bodies were weak and withered from being imprisoned for so long with oxygen being fed through a tube to their lungs.
Every month Robotnik would need to feed upon the living to keep himself alive. For years he had his machines mine a green organic liquid located deep within the planets roots. During his research he learned Mobians had revered this resource naming it the blood of Life. It was used sparingly to treat the sick and wounded, or for rituals but knew their were consequences if this resource was ever abused.
Robotnik cared not for long term consequences of any kind, as he believed the power he built for himself would deal with any bumps along the road to greater ambitions. However the more ambitious he became the more power he needed to achieve his goals. While tales of Power Stones, Chaos and Sol Emeralds eluded him, he took his energy demands to whatever he could use. He mined as much oil as he could, before moving on to coal, solar, and hydro. Little did Robotnik know the more he took from the planet the more it began to break down and wither
Not only the enviorment was effected by this but also some of the inhabitents of changes also triggered the outbreak of new viruses and the awakening of slumbering monsters deep within the rocks of the planet. It warped and twisted the beautiful green ball called Mobius. Robotnik began to realize he could only take so much out of the planet before it was all gone. Knowing this he came upon a new revelation. An energy source that was pure, plentiful, and could be easily farmed.
He had outgrown the use of robotisized slave labor. A long outdated use for manpower. So in a day the Mobians mistook for mercy he released them from their robotic prisons. They were restored to flesh and blood, with an added bonus of their bodies enhanced to combat the rougher living conditions. Then he waited.
The years he let tick by for them to rebuild their societies was mere moments to him, as he toiled away on far more devious schemes to be born. Treaties were ignored, as were feeble attempts to strike back and attack his city. He waited the game out until decades past and he had used up all the " blood of Life " that he set his sights upon the citizens of Mobius once more.
He rounded them up like cattle, able to capture entire towns and hold outs and brought them to the slaughtering fields.
" So small and fragile. Don't worry my children, you are going to become one with your god! " Robotnik said with a chuckle.
The few who were concious in their tubes struggled pathetically against the reinforced glass to escape. The floor around Robotnik's life support body opened up revealing a large molten pit below. One by one they were lowered into a pool of hot liquid, their bodies incinerated.
" If only their was a way to make it slower and more painful for them" Robotnik mused. " Ah well, their fear is enough to keep me entertained, muahahahaha! "
The great engines roared to life, syphoning the life energies now removed from their physical shells. Their remaining souls were fed through a great filter and onverted into pure energy. Their energy they sacrificed fed into his power plants keeping the will of Robotnik alive for another month.
For the local Mobians they referred to these massacres as ' The Harvest ', but for Robotnik it was only Tuesday.
The Freedom Fighters pressed onward toward the Black Mountain which they seemed to be nearing the foot of. As they walked they passed through ruins of human settlements. The wrecks of their buildings stuck up like jagged burnt spikes twisting upwards at the sky. It seemed to reflect upon the masters of the structures very fully. Once strong, bold and commanding conquering the skies but now fallen by one of their own. Lupe suddenly collapsed to the ground and began to vomit. Everyone stopped and rushed to her aid, shocked to see her hardened face filled tears falling from the sides of her cheeks
" Whats wrong Lupe?!" Sally asked very worried. " Are you sick? "
" I feel...suffering " she said gritted teeth. " It's...dragging me in! "
Antoine reached into his supply bag fishing out an emergency stash of wine he carried in a bota and poured some down Lupes throat. She swallowed the alcohol, and seemed to calm. Sally was impressed by his quick thinking.
" Zhere, now. Relax miss wolf witch, and tell us what eet eez you feel " Antoine said.
" I have never felt such a thing before " she said with a shudder. " Ever since I left that cursed battlefield behind me my senses seemed to have been getting sharper. I hear things better, I can see further, but I can also feel things happening to others very far away.
I felt a great suffering...I felt the souls of many of lives crying out in terror and then being silenced. "
Rotor looked pensive. " Mass suffering is the calling card of Robotnik. "
" He's going to pay for what he did to me and my friends " said Bunnie angrily.
Antoine helped Lupe to her feet letting take a few deep breaths getting back her composure and it solidifying into her all so well known iron will. She took one more swig from his sack before returrning on their journey.
Eventually they approached The Black Mountain and black it was. Rotor had explained the Black Mountain was once an active volcano before it cooled, covering the entire mountain in a hard layer of obsidian.
" He's here alright " said Sally seeing a trail of snow burned away. When they came to the front their was a long path of upright stones stacked closely together as pillars. All had strange writing on it that was not Mobian or Overlander.
" So zis Sonique is here you think? " Antoine asked with his outrageous french accent.
" According to Robotnik's satellite intel he should be here. There are no other tracks leading away. "
Antione grumbled and went quiet as they walked closer and closer to the mouth of the mountain leading inside. As they approached stalactites were hanging down from the cieling giving the entrance to that of an open maw.
As they passed cautiously inside they couldn't all but feel a sense of unease approaching on them. As they passed inside darkness took them. Lupe outstretched her hand and a soft blue flame burned bright from her hand.
" Eempressive! Eez zhat magic? " Antoine asked.
" Something like that " she said.
The walls inside were smooth and seemed to be carved by the flow of a river that once came through here long ago. Then they came to a fork in the path. Eight different tunnels leading in different directions.
" Well...this is a pickle " said Rotor.
Bunnie turned on her night vision and looked deep into the tunnels to try and see as far as she could, gauging if any seemed off.
" We could try and split up? " Antoine suggested. "
" No, bad idea Ant. We have to stick together so we dont get seperated or lost " Sally objected.
" I still not see why you wish to persue this hedgehog after what he did! He eez too dangerous to have as an ally. "
Sally looked at her feet, remembering the events that recently took place. She remembered that even in the past he always had a wild untamable streak to him but always had a heart of gold.
" Yes, I understand the risk taking him with us. He became unhinged and acted like a cornered animal. But what I saw his eyes was not malice, but remorse. If Sonic was truly gone he would have not have held back. "
" Held back? " asked Bunnie.
" If he wanted to he would have done the same to us but he 's as if he was being controlled. You said it yourself Rotor, suffering is Robotnik's signature. "
" Robotnik... the suffering must end with him " Lupe declared.
" We're going to need all the help we can get before we can face him. Sonic was always the only one who could go toe to toe with him. He is our only chance " Sally said.
Lupe reached into her bag and pulled out a strange disc-like object. The center was a beautiful green polished stone with an arrow around the bottom.
" This is a guiding stone. When one is lost they need only place their hands on the stone and concentrate on the person or place which they seek to find and the arrow will point in their direction. "
Sally placed her hand on the stone and along with Bunnie and Antoine and Rotor joining in.
" Concentrate on him...concentrate " uttered Lupe with her eyes shut.
They shut their eyes concentrating on his face only. The arrow on the bottom began to spin slowly and then picked up speed accelerating. Then a ding was heard and it stopped pointing to the seventh path before them.
" Thats amazing! " said Sally. " It's like a compass for finding people. "
" Eet better work " mumbled Antoine. " Vwhe could be lost down here if we lose our vway. "
As they passed through the long windy tunnel they began to notice more of those strange hieroglyphs on the walls. Soon they came to the end of the tunnel and sure enough, the stone had led them to the true path.
In a small makeshift camp was Sonic the Hedgehog. He was laying on the cold floor in a deep sleep. Some tattered blankets, half eaten canned goods, and a lantern lay scattered about on the floor. Sally reached out to pull cloak back to get a better look at him revealing the infestation he had spread across his body. His heart was swollen and massive, showing visible beats through his chest. Pulsating veins were growing across his body and on the sides of his face. He was even losing some of his hair. Sally couldnt help but feel bad for him. She could tell this thing was sucking the life out of him. The pain must be unbearable she thought.
Bunnie silently approached him and stared down on bent down and gently wrapped her hand around his skinny neck. Sonic's one eye opened and gave a weak smile.
" End it " he whispered.
Bunnie was startled by his response, and now concious state. " W-what? "
" I killed your friend. Can't take that back can I? Get your revenge. Make her death not in vain. End my suffering. "
Bunnie squeezed harder on his neck, contemplating. With her strength a simple twist would finish things. But she thought back to how she was also tainted by Robotnik's influence. The prison of steel she was put in, and the endless days she spent hating what she had become. Perhaps he wasn't so different from her. If Sally was right about him then he too was once a great hero that stood against him who suffered greatly for it.
Bunnie threw him like a ragdoll aside against the wall and began to weep. Sonic looked at her with surprise and bemusement.
" No more killing " Bunnie said, tears dripping down her metal face. " Ah'm sick of seeing everyone hafta die. We don't deserve this! "
Sally approached Sonic, eyes fixed to his.
" You're quite a gal, Sal " Sonic said with a weak smile. " I barely even know you and you go and kiss me. " Sonic gave a dry laugh. " Gotta say it was nice. Never had a girl be so nice to me before. They always just run away the moment they this " as he gestured to his face.
" I kissed you because I trust you " Sally said.
Sonic just shook his head, confused by the faith she seemed to put in him. Sally kneeled down meeting eye level with him. " I don't think what happened was your fault. Even if you think it was. "
Sonic gazed over at the others. " How did you all find me? "
" Vwe followed zee skid marks, mon ami " spoke Antoine.
Sonic chuckled at his bad accent. ' This guy could be fun to hang around ' he thought to himself. " Well if you're not here to kill me then what's the plan then? "
They all looked at eachother unsure.
" We want to help you " declared Sally.
" Listen, you all seem like a bunch of mondo cool guys to hang with but you dont want to be around me. I'll just cause you all more pain. "
Sally grabbed onto his deformed claw arm grasping it tightly in her hands.
" Did Robotnik do this to you? "
" Well it certainly wasn't a bad case of poison ivy " Sonic joked.
He sat down on a rock and began eating the rest of a chilli dog he had saved. After he finished he spoke.
" Alright, you wanna know what happend to me? Fine, I'll tell you. It was about 3 years ago... "
Sonic was out racing along the outer sectors of Robotropolis smashing through the Swat Bots and avoiding lazer fire from the towers. He would come in routinely planting bombs around major power points cutting off power to sectors of the city and since he could get it done so fast he was a one man army. Sonic often way hired by local rebels for missions to disable areas of the city that were too dangerous to enter, or occasional extractions. Robotnik watched his attempts to destroy his city over and over with great annoyance.
" Foolish blue hedgehog. He tries so hard but he does not know that the game is already over and I have won. "
The next day Sonic was ambushed by an army of Swat Bots lead by the robot general of Robotropolis, the Red Swatbot. It looked just like the other Swat Bots but it was different than the others. It was self aware and retained a concious and was ultimately superior in combat and tactics than any other machine Robotnik made. Robotnik at once point attempted to deactivate it but it was able to resist such commands and stay online indefinitely. Robotnik would have outright scrapped this defiant robot if it wasn't for its excellent abilities and unflinching loyalty.
Its crimson title hailed from its brutality in battle and caking itself in the blood of its enemies. Sonic was unfortunate to run into this one Swat Bot that had led him into a trap and quickly overwhelmed the hedgehog. Finally he was brought before Robotnik in chains who would ultimately decide his fate.
" Well, well, well look who it is. A nasty little blue rodent come to play with the good doctor. "
" So you're Robotnik, huh? I wasn't expecting it to also be McDonalds' favorite customer. How many ground up big macs you got being pumped into your arteries? I bet when you crap it's like a mud slide. How's it feel to look down and not be able to see your little p- "
A robotic tentacle siezed Sonic wrapping around his neck like a snake tightening strangling him ever so slightly. It raised him off the ground and brought him eye to eye with his enemy. Sonic shuddered when he realized Robotnik was a lot larger up close. Larger than any normal human even. His large mouth was big enough to swallow him whole.
" You got a lot of guts to defy me. I have had my eye on you for a long time, and I have made something special just for you " he said with an evil grin.
Sonic felt a long needle stab its way into his back. He screamed in pain.
" I've lived a long time. I had to give up most of my body and rely on my machines to keep me going but I fear it's only a matter of time before what's left of me will go. I am not ready to give up everything I dedicated my life to building. I have so much more work to do, and so little time. That's where you are going to help me with that!
" I've given you an enzyme that's now running through your blood stream. Your life and is now linked to mine. The more I begin to deteriorate the more you will be effected. I admit, this hasn't yet been tested and I fear the results will be quite messy on your mind and body.
" But fear not, dear boy. Once I die your torture will be at its end. By that time your mind will most likely already be gone, and I'll have a fresh new body made for my concious to be passed into. I will live again in a fresh body! "
Sonic struggled and wrestled against his mechanical grip, glaring hatefully. " You think I'll just let you get away with this? I just gotta stop you first! "
Robotnik gave a loud hearty laugh at this. " Like all your other attempts to stop me? Please, feel free to keep fighting. I enjoy your determination. I look forward to what the future for us brings! "
Sonic was thrown from Robotnik's grasp to the floor below. He tried to roll into a ball but he was too wounded from the battle with the Swat Bots from earlier. All went black as he braced for impact.
" ...And then I woke up outside dumped off in a land fill somewhere outside the city. I been on the run from him ever since trying to come up with a plan on how to get him back. This is a good spot to hold up from him. His satellites can't seem to detect me from here, and I never see activity of Swat Bots for miles. "
" So that's his game. Cheating death with you as a sacrifice " Lupe murmured.
" Every day I spend like this I feel the more and more whatever he put in me influencing me. I wish I could just rush in and kick the crap out of him! " Sonic said, clenching his fists. " The bastard is too well fortified. I can never get close enough to him. "
Sally gave Sonic a sympathetic hug. Sonic realized it was a long time since another person showed this show of trust for him. It stunned him. He wasn't sure how to respond but to remain still. She gave him a warm smile.
" See? A little bit of trust can bring out the good in anyone. "
Antoine finally spoke up, not impressed with Sonic's story. " I do not trust zis Sonique! He admitted he eez compromised, and could eezily be an unwilling spy for Robotnique! "
" Shutup Antoine!" Rotor said, smacking him over the back of the head.
" So now that you came all this way for me, what now? " he asked.
Sally outstretched her hand. " Come with us. We'll fight Robotnik together and end this! "
Sonic looked up at her and gave a laugh. Her unwavering optimism made him remember what it was once like to be fearless and stare death in the face. He missed the call of adventure.
" Sounds like a plan! "
