Chapter Two – Arrival
Bunnie Rabbot was having a bad day. She had not been well in recent weeks and her robotic parts were now beginning to rust, due to age. She was a white rabbit with a southern accent. Half of her body was robotised, leaving her left arm and both legs mechanical. She was skilled in martial arts and did desire to be returned to normal but had changed her mind when the time came, as she intensely feared it. Nowadays, she fights for equality for her fellow Robians, out of choice, as there were many people out there who couldn't be de-roboticise for medical reasons. They bodies had been robotised for so long that their had become dependent on the mechanical parts and to be de-robotised would almost certainly end in death. Bunnie felt that without her, these people had no voice, left on the trash to die, and as an ex-Freedom Fighter, she felt she had some leverage.
Or she thought she did. But Sally had changed. It all happened many years ago, when that dam Skunk came along. She was certain he'd had done something to her, but what? But the problem was she couldn't prove anything, and agreed with Rotor, that she was different. But there no visible signs, no differences to be seen between Sally now and the Sally that fought back at Knothole. She was older and had grown her hair but nothing really.
Bunnie sighed. It was in her attitude where she had really changed. Her heart. It was a though the people she fought with back at Knothole meant absolutely nothing to her. Granted, she'd famously took Sonic's death incredibly badly, but that just didn't explain the lack of care. She thought back to the Blue Blur, and realised how mortified he'd be at her.
But Bunnie felt that she'd had to do something and soon. Mobotropolis was falling into rack and ruin, after years of neglect, while Sally had been living in total luxury. The people were starving. They had been coming to see the Queen in their droves, asking for help, and she'd done nothing. Her people were dying, or leaving, by the thousand. All of the local resources had been used up and none were being exported in, and now, on her birthday, only the most hardy or loyal of Mobotropolis' residences now remained, but it was all but a few of the original.
She always threw lavish parties on her birthday, and only the most important of guests attending. Including Geoffrey St. John. Bunnie knew something was out-of-character when she married that Skunk. Sally had always famously hated him, all the way through Knothole. He was cruel, cold, sly and manipulative, and she never fell for his tricks. That is until now.
Sally just didn't care, and that was what really got to Bunnie. Back at Knothole, Sally was incredibly selfless, just like Sonic and put absolutely everyone before herself. Nowadays, her cold selfish heart was willing to let her people perish while she had her fun. But with a bad Winter coming, now confirmed, Bunnie was not going to allow her to do it. Her people had done nothing to deserve this and this angered her greatly.
If Bunnie didn't fight for them, then no one would. Sonic was gone. She cried. The tears ran. It as at times like this, she really missed her 'Sugar-hog'. She was certain he'd know what to do, to snap Sally out of it. Bunnie didn't have his unbelievable powers but she did have his heart, and the gut determination to do the right thing, whatever the cost.
But the Rabbit did notice one thing. Despite Geoffrey St. John manipulations, Sally had not raised him to the point of King. He was still only the Prince Consort to her. He must have tried everything to get her to do it, but failed. In Mobian law, she had every right to do it, if she choose. The fact that he been getting some resistance from her, meant to Bunnie one thing, that her Sally was still in there and worth fighting for.
To find out the truth, Bunnie had to confront her, she didn't have a choice. She had thought long and hard, when would be the best time to do it, to make the most impact. Bunnie had also decided that she wouldn't go on her own. She would take a group of Robians with her. To go alone was unwise. Her people. As a group, there was a chance Sally might listen. Bunnie sighed, it was slim, but worth a try.
And when to go to the Palace? Bunnie smirked. When she was least expected! That's what Sonic would do.
On Sally Acorn's birthday itself!
The Queen was throughly unimpressed when she saw them. She had grown to despise the Robians over the years, all because of the roboticiser. It had split the people of Mobius into factions. The Mobians were people who had never been robotised. With Sally Acorn at its head, they believed themselves to be utterly superior, above all others, as they never allowed those disgusting roboticiser rays anywhere near their skins.
The Roboticiser was considered 'dirty' and 'down-trodden' and anyone who is touched by it is also considered so. Those that haven't are considered 'pure'. The Robians were people who have been robotised, but refused to be de-robotised on either religious or safety grounds. Sally thought this was ridiculous, the de-roboticiser was safe, it wasn't a hundred percent, but safe enough for most people.
'Better that then live out your life as a robot!' She would often think.
Consider inferior and second-class citizens, all the Robians wanted was equality even though most of them were robotised with outdated technology was were quite often falling apart. They just believed that that shouldn't matter.
But it did to Sally, and she wasn't going to give them what they wanted, not in the Kingdom of Acorn, anyway. She had been crowned Queen. Her coronation was a spectacular affair, with celebrations all around, a beautiful ceremony with the finest attire and jewels. It happened not long after the death of Sonic, and was the uplift that everyone needed. As Queen of the whole of the Kingdom of Acorn, she had total rule. Whatever she said, went. The Kingdom of Acorn used to be a lot bigger, but during the War, but Robotnik had sold off nearly all of it, so nowadays it only included Mobotropolis itself, and just a few miles of the surrounding area. But a Kingdom, was a Kingdom, no matter how small, and Sally was determined to rule, however, she saw fit.
Absolute rule.
Everyone had to follow. Not matter which faction you were from, friend or foe. You could protest as much as you wanted, Sally had no intention of giving in an inch, especially to the Robians. Bunnie Rabbot sighed. All she could do is argue her case.
"Sally, you have to help your people. You have to help us. Winter's coming." She pleaded, her fellow Robians nodding in agreement. Sally just said there on her throne, folding her arms and huffed, saying nothing. Bunnie continued. If she wasn't getting anywhere with Winter, then maybe the equality issue would strike a nerve. If Sally was still in there, then she needed to make whatever was controlling her falter, to give her a chance.
"Then give us our rights as citizens. We've done nothing wrong!" She spat. Bunnie smirked. Well, that did it. Sally exploded.
"No, I'm not giving you what you want!" She growled. She was fed up of that Rabbit dirtying her beautiful Palace with her filthy mechanical parts. "You are not welcome here. Get out!" She almost shouted.
Geoffrey St. John ordered the guards on Bunnie. Sally didn't stop him. Bunnie just stared at her, very surprised at her the reaction. Bunnie had been expecting some aggression, but not this much. The old Sally would have never have done this to her, they were best friends. The Rabbit looked deep into the Queen's eyes. They were still so cold. Emotionless. But as the guards surrounded Bunnie and her fellow Robians, she looked at the Queen. Bunnie sighed. Nothing had worked, and now, she was desperate.
"Sally-girl? What's happened to you?" She asked. Sally growled again in response.
"That is no way to address your Queen!" She screamed. "GET OUT!" She shouted.
Without another word, the guards forceable moved them away from the throne and towards the door.
Then without warning, a blinding flash of light come out of nowhere, Bunnie and her fellow Robians found themselves being pulled to the one side and out of sight.
"Shhhhhh.. Quiet!" Someone hissed. "The guards should move on shortly when they have realised you've gone." He whispered.
Bunnie smiled. She immediately recognised the voice. Rotor. Then realised that she and her fellow Robians had been ushered into his Workshop. Built inside one of the Towers of the Palace. She looked around the spherical room. She had never been in here before. It was large room, dimly lit, with a computer to one side but was somewhat cramped because of the very large flying-machine-type-contraption that filled most of the space. Bunnie looked at it. How Rotor was going to get it out of the workshop to fly the thing, she had no idea. Her eyes then travelled upwards, towards the walls and ceiling, where numerous gadgets hung, and gave Bunnie the feeling like she was back in Rotor's old workshop back in Knothole. She smiled.
'Old habit's die hard!' She thought. Rotor was out of breathe.
"Everyone alright?" He whispered. Bunnie swung round, looked at the fellow Robians and nodded.
"Yes. Thank you." She said. Rotor looked at her.
"So, now what do we do?" He asked, completely clueless, looking for an answer.
Then they heard it. A voice. Powerful yet gentle, strong yet selfless. It came from the computer, completely out of nowhere. A voice whose very soul seemed to seep from the very speakers themselves. It rang out across the workshop, crisp and clear, yet warm and determined. It stunned everyone. A blast from the past.
"Leave Sally to me!" It said, calmly.
They all stared at each other. Silence reigned. All that could be heard, was what sounded like, very light breathing coming from the console speakers.
Bunnie's mind was spinning. Was she seriously hearing things? But looking around at the others, she suspected not, as they all heard it. From the looks of their faces, they too instantly recognised the voice.
'But that's not possible.' She thought. 'He's dead!' She gasped. It had to be a trick. There was no way he could have survived. They was only one way to find out. Ask! They had no idea as to the origins of the voice. Was it real or a ghost? With computers anything was possible so eventually she finally spoke, but it was nothing more then a whisper. Still not believing her ears.
"Sugar-hog?" She stammered. The voice rang out through the speakers again.
"Hello Bunnie!" It replied, with further warmth and a smile. Rotor didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The voice then sounded concerned.
"Easy, Rotor, calm down. I didn't mean to scare you. It's only me!" It grinned. Bunnie laughed but Rotor was confused.
"Hey, how did you know..." He asked. The voice huffed.
"The camera!" It spat, cutting across him. "I can see you!" It giggled. There was one attached to the computer. Rotor was astonished.
"How..." He gasped.
"I don't know!" The voice replied, cutting across him again.
"Yeah, sure, Sugar-hog. How did you survive?" Bunnie snapped. She wasn't sure if she believed what was going on. What was really happening?
"Seriously, Bunnie. I don't know." The voice replied. Then there was a pause. "It would depend on your definition of survive. Well, alive anyway, besides I've got access all areas to anything connected to the Palace network in here." He giggled. But Rotor gasped again.
"Wait, Sonic! Are you saying that your mind is inside the computer?" He asked. The Blue Blur grinned inanely.
"Oh, yeah!" He smirked. But Rotor was stunned.
"So thats how you survived!" He gasped. But Bunnie was confused.
"What!" She spat, not understanding. But Sonic cut across them.
"Well, yes and no. Things change." He sounded hurried. "You recon that something's wrong with Sally and I agree. I can help her but you both have to do something for me, for old time's sake. Please." Bunnie and Rotor looked at each other.
"What!" They said together. There was a long pause. His voice rang out from the computer speaker's again.
"Trust me!" There was another pause. "Whatever happens!" He sighed. "Please!" He added. He was desperate for their approval. So much as changed that he wasn't even sure if he still had it in him. To be the hero. Sonic watched them closely through the camera, but he couldn't read them very well as he was seriously out of practice. There was a long silence. Rotor spoke first.
"I trust you!" He said calmly. Bunnie stared at him. Was he out of his mind? Yes, the voice sure as hell sounded like Sonic, but he was officially declared dead. Plus thanks to Snively, they all watched him die. There was no proof Sonic was who he said he was. The voice in the computer perked up.
"Thanks, Rotor." He said, sounding somewhat relieved and with that, he vanished. Bunnie rounded on Rotor.
"You idiot. You have just put Sally in grave danger!" She spat. Sally may not have been herself, but Bunnie still cared deeply for her. Rotor looked stunned at Bunnie.
"Well, I don't think so." He said calmly.
Bunnie was just about to argue, when she decided against it. She had suddenly had an idea. If Sonic was who he said he was, then he'd make his move against Sally and fast. If she was going to see Sonic, they had to leave and quickly. She grabbed him by the arm and headed towards the door of the workshop.
"Come on." She said as she dragged everyone out of the workshop and into the Great Hall of the Palace. Sally was sat on her throne at the far end, on a raised platform, looking throughly bored. Her husband, Geoffrey, as still barking out orders and being quite cruel about it, and the hall was teaming with people, the main door's open.
Bunnie hide out of sight from the guards as they past and thought.
'If you can do what you claim you can do, Sugar-hog. Then this should be good.' She sighed, closing her eyes. 'I hope this isn't a wild goose chase.' She added.
All eyes were on Sally. But it was Geoffrey who made the first move. He was being extremely rude to a relatively poor family who had brought Sally a birthday gift. The best they could afford, but he claimed it wasn't good enough. It was quite shocking actually, especially to Bunnie, who could hear Geoffrey's voice carry over the top of the busy hall. She looked around waiting for something to happen.
"Come on!" she whispered. If Sonic was going to make a move, it was now or never.
Then it happened, and everything changed. His voice rang out, out of nowhere, across the entire hall, crystal clear and full of attitude. So much attitude, that it made Bunnie giggle. If this was a trick, it was a good one. It seemed to be coming from the very walls of the Great Hall itself.
"Hey!" He bellowed. "Pick on someone your own size!" He growled.
Sonic's voice needed no introduction. He had been so famous during both wars against Robotnik and Snively, that everybody knew him, by sight and by sound.
Bunnie smirked from behind the pillar, where she was hiding, as she watched the entire Great Hall fall instantly silent. Geoffrey walked forward, taking centre stage, absolutely stunned.
"That's impossible!" He gasped. Sonic smirked.
"You heard me!" He spat back. Geoffrey whirled round. The Hedgehog's voice came from all around him. Anger welled up inside of him.
"Show yourself!" he growled. Sonic shrugged. He had nothing to loose.
"Very well." He replied, and appeared before them.
In the blink of an eye, he was there. Right in the middle of the hall, few metres aways from Geoffrey. Silently and out of nowhere. He stood there with his arms folded, powerful and strong, his large emerald green eyes fixed on Geoffrey. His beautifully manicured Hedgehog quills flowed his back from his forehead looking spectacular, and his gloves and shoes were spotless. The white stripe on his red shoes glistened in evening light, through the windows and his short royal blue fur shined like silk.
Bunnie's jaw dropped. How could she have ever doubted him? She was mentally kicking herself when she spotted something strange about Sonic. Watching him, he looked exactly as he did six years ago, except for the eyes. Bunnie had no memory of him ever having green eyes, in fact, she was pretty sure, he didn't. They were black. But that wasn't the strange part. Looking at him from this angle, he appeared somewhat see-through, and a little fuzzy around the edges. But not from the front, Bunnie knew that Sonic would look real. She had seen this technology before.
A hologram. Bunnie laughed. It was genius. But things turned cold very quickly. Geoffrey stared at the Hedgehog, they all did.
"Your alive. How?" He gasped. But before Sonic reply, Geoffrey cut across him. "No matter." he leered. "Guards! Kill him!" He shouted.
Those words shocked everyone, and the same thought when through both Rotor's and Bunnie's heads at the same time. They had to defend Sonic. Both completely forgetting that he was a hologram. They and the other Robians charged forwards from the back of the Great Hall, to find that Sonic had gotten there first.
The guards had flanked him, one either side and one from the back. Bunnie and Rotor took out the guard behind Sonic, but the Hedgehog himself took out the rest. Within seconds and gesturing as if to cast magic, he whirled his hands round over each other, in a circle, creating a large ball of green light between them. He then thrust towards the guard to his left. He immediately went down. Sonic repeated the process and throw another green ball of light at the guard to his right. He too went down.
What happened next, happened very quickly. The Hedgehog, to everyone horror, and in the confusion, then rounded on Sally. Before anyone could stop him, he had throne a ball of white light, this time, straight at her, which hit her square in the forehead. She immediately collapsed to the ground. Then he turned behind him and threw a green ball of light straight at Bunnie Rabbot. Completely without warning. She shielded herself but the ball still hit her but she didn't collapse. She stood there shaking, looking own at her old, obsolete robotised parts and saw them begin to fall off her body, revealing new mechanical limbs underneath. She suddenly felt her mind grow as it was becoming more open to wireless signals. Her original robotised limbs remained the same but became smaller and more delicate and Bunnie felt wires dug into her skull, seemingly directly hot-wired into her brain. After a few minutes, she stopped shaking, and was left surrounded by old metallic parts at her feet.
She felt fantastic. She felt strong and powerful, her mind expanded, she had to reassure her people that she was alright.
During this time, screams had filled the air as widespread panic ensued. People fled in all directions. The guards Sonic hit began change. Rotor watched in horror, as both the guard's bodies began to transform, changing from organic tissue to mechanical parts. Their minds trapped inside a robotic body they can no longer control. They had been robotised. Rotor couldn't believe their eyes. The Roboticiser was the most feared weapon on Mobius and now Sonic could wield it, somehow?
He stood there, deadly still, with what Rotor thought was a small smirk on his face. His eyes still fixed on Geoffrey, who was now beginning to panic. Sally was on the floor beside him, somehow, unchanged. Rotor was confused. For the first time in his life, he feared the Hedgehog.
"Sonic." He screamed. "What the hell?" He growled. What was going on? Sonic didn't move and looked emotionless.
"I thought I asked you to 'trust me'!" He replied somewhat coldly. Trust him! Rotor was shaking with anger. Upon regaining her senses, Bunnie had quickly noticed that Sally had been floored by Sonic. Temporarily forgetting her own change, the ran to Sally's side, opposite Rotor. She too was fuming.
"What had you done to her?" She spat angrily. Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Guys!" He sighed. "She'll be fine." He added, but it was obvious he wasn't believed. He sighed and smirked broadly at her, almost grinning.
"I'd be more concerned about your own change." He giggled. Bunnie gulped. What had he done to her? He looked at the Rabbit up and down, he just said one single word.
"Upgrade!" He shrugged and before Bunnie could answer, Sonic snapped his fingers and everything went black. Bunnie was dumbfounded. An upgrade. She was still a Robian, but with potentially the most up-to-date technology on Mobius. But how, how did Sonic do it? She was incredibly grateful, but now was not the time as Sally was beginning to come too.
Sally awoke with the sounds of panic ringing in her ears. She had a thumping headache, but for the first time in years, she could think clearly. She now had full control of her body. Having been trapped inside her own mind for such a long time, she had forgotten was it was like to feel normal again. She was sat up by Bunnie and Rotor. Both of whom had ran to be by her side. It was dark all around but she could just about see them. She was perfectly alright. She stared at them.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. Her friends looked at each other.
"You don't know!" Rotor asked. But before she could answer, a large computer screen on one of the walls of the Great Hall came to life, silencing everyone, showing what looked like archive footage from six years ago.
It was Snively sat at his main computer console, talking to someone just off camera.
"Are you sure that that is what they are planing to do?" He asked in a very cold voice. His visiter replied.
"Yes. Their plan to charge the H.Q., catch you off-guard and take you out one-on-one. Simple really!" He hissed. Bunnie and Rotor stared. They recognised that voice. Snively seemed mildly concerned.
"Well." he smirked. "I'd better make sure I'm not alone then." He laughed. "Are you sure the date and time is correct?" He leered. There a paused before his visiter answered.
"Yes." Replied the visiter again, "And if you follow the points i've told you, you should be able to take out dam Hedgehog." He spat. Snively looked up.
"Not friends then?" He hissed. The visiter sounded somewhat put-out.
"I hate him. Anything to be rid of him." He growled. Snively leaned forwards, his voice barely a hiss.
"Is that why your doing this? What in it for you?" He sneered. The visiter was angry. But there was a long pause before he answered.
"I want the girl!" He spat. Snively's smirk broadened.
"The princess!" He sniggered. He looked down his long nose at him. "She'll never take you!" He laughed. The visiter charged at Snively, revealing himself on camera.
It was Geoffrey St. John.
"I will have her. I have my ways!" He shouted at the human. Snively sniggered, satisfied.
"Done." He spat. "You will have your princess." He nodded.
The screen when black. The lights came back on.
So it was Geoffrey who sold them out. Sold Sonic out. Betrayed them. Now all eyes in the Great Hall were on the Skunk. He knew he was beaten so he fled. He had been slowly creeping towards the door while the footage was showing, so had a large head start on his pursuers.
"Hey, come back!" Bunnie shouted after him, unable to think of anything better to say. Her brain was spinning. Turns out Sally was going to be alright after all, just as Sonic had said, but his new abilities, were scaring her. But right now, there and then, at that very moment, Sonic was on their side, and she'd take him, whatever weirdness came along for the ride. He coolly sidled up beside her. He smirked.
"Bunnie." He giggled. "Who are you talking to?" He grinned, and then catching on, so did she.
Sonic moved very fast indeed. Before anyone knew it, Geoffrey was being blown back towards them with what looked like a very large green ball of light. He squirmed and wriggled on the floor as he was being robotised. Bunnie watch the process with both fear and fascination. Sonic reappeared beside her.
"How did you do that?" She asked. But they were cut across before the Hedgehog could answer.
"Sonic!" The voice gasped.
It was Sally. She had only just now noticed that he was here. She had gotten to her feet and was running towards him, tears in her eyes.
"SONIC!" She screamed. Sonic's eyes widened.
"Sally, Whoa!" He gasped, holding his hands out, to stop her, but it was too late.
She ran straight through him. Sonic shuddered. Seeing his ex-girlfriend from the inside out was not what he had planned today, and it was most unpleasant. He sighed.
"Sorry, Sal. Hologram!" He said pointing to himself. "I'm not really here." He added.
Sally collapsed on the floor in tears. Rotor cut across.
"Yeah." He said cheery. "He lives inside computers now, free from all the mess of organic matter." He giggled. Sonic smiled. Trust Rotor to try and lift the mood.
"Well, not exactly." He replied. "I have a body, it's just not here." He paused. "Actually, it's the other side of the planet!" He shrugged. They all looked at him, gasping. Rotor was stunned.
"Wait. So you can separate your mind from your body and not end up dead?" He gasped. Sonic nodded.
"Yes." He said simply. All eyes were on him. He sighed. He now had some explaining to do. He hated this part, but how else was going to gain their trust again.
"Like I said. Things change. I've changed. Far beyond what any of you can imagine." They all looked at him. Bunnie definitely agreed. He continued. "I know its been a while, but I wanted to see you." Indicating to Sally. He sighed. "I thought through the computer might make be an easier reintroduction. But when I saw you, and how you had changed, I knew what exactly had been done to you. I could see that your brain had been partially robotised..." Everyone gasped. Sonic continued. "I could feel the mechanical parts inside you. Thats when I decided to do something." There was a long pause. "Yes, I do indeed have have to power to robotise and de-roboticise at will, or at least my body does, I had no idea if it extended to my mind." He admitted.
Sonic's eyes fell to the floor, his hands behind his back, looking sheepish. He had winged it and he knew it. It was a dangerous game to play and it could, so easily, have backfired. But Bunnie was fuming, there was still many unanswered questions, he was not, rather frustratingly, getting to the point.
"Where did you get such powers?" She snapped. "Where have you been all this time?" She growled. Sonic held his hands in defence. He didn't blame her for being so angry.
"All in good time, Bunnie, I promise." He sighed. But then there was a pause. Sonic seemed to gaze off for a second into the middle distance.
"Uh-oh!" he stammered. Then in absolute raw panic, he began talking, but not to any of them. "No! Wait! Don't pull the plug!" He then swore as he put both hands over his mouth in horror. They all looked very confused. Sonic looked at them all.
"I think someone has just tried to forcible disconnect my body from the network." He stammered. He'd gone somewhat white. "I have just bitten them." He panicked. "It was a reflex action, I didn't mean too." He gulped. "I have a really nasty bite. I hope their alright." He gasped.
There was a long pause.
"I have to go. I'm sorry." And with that, he vanished, leaving utter confusion in his wake.