The Grand Inventor
"Hello, nephew. Hello Sally and friend. I do hope your trip was uneventful," the Robian greeted warmly.
"Missed ya, uncle," Sonic gasped, wrapping his arms around his Uncle's robotic body.
"Look, I hate to interrupt, but you have information for the Freedom Fighters, right?" I asked.
Sir Charles nodded. "I'll only have a little time before my absence will be noted so I'll have to be quick about it."
Reaching into a pouch slung over his shoulder Sir Charles extricated a small silvery disk. "Here's a data disk for NICOLE containing the schematics for the Doomsday Project. Like I mentioned to Sonic, I don't have all the details as it's still being assembled outside Robotropolis. If you had her with you, I could show you."
"She's in the shop for maintenance," I answered with a straight face.
"That's a real shame. It'd be easier to explain with her. Here's the thing. I ran into a bottleneck. I believe most of the parts required for the evacuation project can be secured here. However, I'll need a power source sufficient to run the device and siphoning power from Robotropolis won't work, he'll investigate. Power rings would do in a pinch, as many as you can ... or a chaos emerald."
I nodded. Sir Charles would think of everything, the plan certainly sounded feasible. Power Rings were readily obtainable from the 'Ring Pool' but Chaos Emeralds much less so given the vast majority were in Robotnik's hands. "Just how exactly is this different from his previous attempts to wipe us out?" I asked.
"I think you'll be pleased to know your efforts have caused more than a few grey hairs on Robotnik's head. That is ... if you could find any. You've frustrated and humiliated him. He knows the sheer size of the Great Forest masks your operations well and even he lacks the resources to police such a vast area. So," Sir Charles paused for dramatic effect, "he's built a machine that can. It's called a Death Egg, Sally. An enormous spherical floating station. It bristling with cannons capable of spotting a field mouse in the brush and vaporizing it. It's got shielding that makes it practically invulnerable and to top it all off, it can land a small army anywhere."
Sir Charles waited, letting the gravity of the message sink in. Noting the visible looks of dismay on his guests, Sir Charles continued. "Trust me, Robotnik spared no expense on its construction. You don't want to be anywhere around it."
"How does such a large machine stay aloft? Surely it would have to refuel or land so we can hit it while it's vulnerable, can't we?" I asked, desperately for any way out of our predicament.
Sir Charles, clearly having anticipated his guests' questions, had an answer prepped. "It's kept aloft indefinitely by the Master Emerald seized from Angel Island. Supplies are dispatched via Hover Swat which is required to provide the correct IFFs or be destroyed with the station's anti-air arsenal." With a shake of his head, Sir Charles let loose a garbled sigh. "I wished I could say otherwise but fleeing is a better option. I'll buy you time by sabotaging the components manufactured here."
"There's no question. I'm not running. Where is it being assembled offsite? We're going to destroy it while it's being built," I stated adamantly.
"Oh Sally, I wished it were so simple. But he's left nothing to chance. He's assembling his creation in Artika, far outside your operational range. But he'll bring his creation here and destroy everything."
"Look, perhaps it's not my place princess, but this sounds like an issue for a council of war. We really should head back before dark and plan your next move," Nack interjected.
Nack's words made sense. But Sally hated war meetings. Too many dissenting voices. Too many opinions. So many opinions that sometimes brought the consensus to carrying on like nothing happened. I had to arrive at a decision now. But I would be a fool not to listen to Sir Charles. The one Mobian who was intellectually Robotnik's equal.
My mind raced. There had to be a way. The problem was we didn't have many options for targeting such a large high-flying battle station. Only Dulcy could, at a stretch, reach its operational altitude and that was without factoring in the defensive armament of the station. Hijacking a resupplying Hover Swat was an option. However, that too carried its own risk. Somehow, we had to capture one in mid-flight, fool the security systems and land a force sufficient to take on the station from the inside.
"Sally, I know it's a hard decision for you. And I know how badly you want to keep everyone safe. But even if by some miracle you do destroy Robotnik's creation the odds will still be against you. Even without his superweapon, Robotnik possesses more than enough conventional forces to utterly destroy you. But I leave the final decision to you, Sally. You're old and mature enough to make that choice," the Robian spoke confidently, so trusting in his former student to make the right choice.
"Look, Sal, whatever you decide now. I'll support you. Okay?" Sonic comfortingly placed his hand on my shoulders. Sometimes, Sonic knew just the right words to say.
I stared at my blue boots. Both Nack and Sir Charles had raised good points. It would have been so easy to go back and trust in the consensus. But I couldn't. Looking back, I felt ashamed. I didn't earn Sir Charles confidence and I certainly didn't feel either mature or wise enough to decide for everyone. All I knew was that I had to make a decision, not to dither, defer, and abstain. Abstention was an option meant for cowards. I was not a coward.
"I'll destroy it. The question I think isn't really 'whether' but 'how'." I swallowed down the butterflies in my stomach, replying with an air of confidence unbecoming for my frayed nerves.
"Look, Sally, you know as well as I that it's suicidal," Sir Charles protested. I knew he rarely raised his voice and when he did it was a frightening prospect.
"Yeah, that's my gal. Just do it, and if that doesn't work, do it faster and harder. We'll ram that station down Eggman's throat before he knows what hit him." Sonic could barely suppress an enthusiastic grin.
"Look, Nephew, please don't support her on this. We'll need to get the evacuation plan started soon," Uncle Chuck protested putting his foot on the ground.
"You know, everyone, it seems a waste to simply blow it up," Nack said.
"What do you mean?"
"There will be hundreds of badniks stationed on board along with the necessary command codes to reprogram them as we see fit. Of course, there are also the ship's massive weapons systems. Imagine controlling even a fraction all that power," Nack elaborated.
"Take it?" Sonic yelped. "Steal the Death Egg?"
My eyes lit up. For the first time in a very long time. If we play our cards right. We can win this. Win this for good. I felt so deliriously happy as I embraced Nack. "You're a genius!" I exclaimed.
Uncle Chuck opinionated cautiously. "It is, of course possible. It won't be like stealing a Hover Swat. Every system on board the Death Egg is encrypted. It might take me an hour to break any one sequence, and if I'm even a minute late it'll roll over and I'll need to restart. An hour to get you into navigation, for example. And another hour to gain access to weapons systems."
Then everyone started talking at once, arguing, posturing, scoring, debating points.
"That's enough," Sir Charles interrupted. "There's no way any of you will be able to survive the garrison stationed onboard." That was a valid point. One that would leave Nack's strategy in limbo. But it was so close. I could sense it. Just a few missing elements that would make things right.
Mentally, I filtered out the distracting noise of Sonic attempting to reason with his Uncle. I calmed my mind. Stilled my pounding heart into a slow gentle rhythm and matched my breathing to the beat. But my thoughts immediately returned to everyone and everything plaguing me. Then, amid the firestorm of ideas, one blossomed out like the loveliest flower. "Are there Robians on board?" I asked.
"Yes Sally, several hundred of them to keep the ship in operational condition. I fail to see the point you're making," the Robian responded.
"The Robians are controlled by a mainframe located on the Death Egg itself, right? What if we overrode their programming to cause havoc onboard? It's an isolated place. Reinforcements will take some time to arrive from ground level. It'll even the odds once we storm it," I postulated.
"I don't believe what I'm hearing Sally. I'm … I'm disappointed in you that you would suggest such a monstrous thing. If we did that then surely, we would be no better than Robotnik. Have you forgotten these are our people, their minds trapped within their metal shells? I must have suffered some malfunction to have misheard you suggesting such ghastly deeds. I won't be privy to this."
A small part of me, one that I would now call naïve seemed to be clinging to that last shred of hope that I would somehow be able to change his mind. Something Sally was never able to accomplish herself. He always won their debates. Clenching and unclenching my fists at my sides, I spoke forcefully, yet also imploringly. "Look, Sir Charles. It's a few hundred Robians for millions more enslaved within Robotropolis itself. Please reconsider."
Sir Charles froze for a moment upon hearing words so far afield from what he knew of his most faithful student. If his mechanical jaw could hang I was sure that it would. "It's true then. I guess I wasn't mishearing. My answer is the same, Sally. I won't do it. I won't let you do this to yourself."
Ordinarily, Sally would have been aghast with horror. To have the kind and noble Sir Charles disappointed in her would have torn her heart. Me? I was indignant with rage. The vexing of the soul I felt was intoxicating. It burned like fire was lacing my veins and creeping up my spine. The acidity of it resided in my stomach, waiting to be spat out of my mouth in foul and vulgar words.
"You know, Sir Charles. I know why you want us to give up the fight. I know why you want us to run. It's because deep down, you fear what will happen if … when we win."
Sir Charles stared blankly at me. "Sorry Sally, what are you talking about?"
"Because I know, that when we win. There'll be a reckoning. Millions of freed Robians will be looking for vengeance. On the one who condemned them to a decade of servitude, unable to travel a few miles to embrace their significant other, unable even to grieve as their loved ones fell apart."
Sir Charles was silent. He was an intelligent person. I think he knew what I was getting at.
"There will need to be a scapegoat, Sir Charles. Tell me, who that scapegoat will be," I demanded. There was more awkward silence at my tirade. "No one? The one who invented the Roboticizer. The one who made all this possible. It was you Sir Charles," I stated, pointing an accusatory finger at the stunned Robian.
Sonic intervened, looking angrier than I imagined possible for the suave hedgehog. "Don't say that about my uncle. He's been helping us as soon as he was freed. You're not being fair. You can't blame him for what Robotnik did with his invention."
I ignored him and continued my ruthless harangue. "Sir Charles, your 'help' will be a footnote in a great list of failures. Deep down you know that regardless of what you do, you won't be able to atone for the damage you've caused. You don't want us to win. Because when we do, your name will be reviled by all. You'll rust in prison. Your 'achievements' will be stricken from the history books. Tell me if I'm wrong."
"How could you say that? You're sick Sal."
"Shut up!" I yelled at the insufferable hedgehog before turning back to the Robian.
"And that's your problem, isn't it?" I continued. "Deep down you know there is a part of you willing and able to do terrible things to preserve your name. By asking us to abandon the fight. Sacrifice millions of our people in slavery -"
"Never!" Sir Charles shouted back, cutting me off from my tirade. He paused once more, looking back down at the floor as he wrestled with his thoughts. "Never, Sally." He repeated, more quietly this time. "I admit, building the Roboticizer and making all this possible is something I cannot forgive myself for. There are things too which I've done in that state. Things I may never be able to forgive myself for. But every day since my free will was restored. I think about making amends. I would rather die than risk getting more people hurt."
Even as Sir Charles words rang in the air, I felt pangs of regret. Each of my words had been saturated with ugliness, as though they were uttered by some savage beast and not a syllable of it was what I truly yearned to say. "Would you kill?" I asked. I had no illusion as to what my earlier request to Sir Charles was. The question caught Sir Charles off guard. "That's more to the point, isn't it? Would you kill hundreds of Robians, sacrifice your name to save millions more?" The room fell silent. So quiet one would wonder if anyone were even breathing. There was no good answer to the question, and I knew it.
"You don't have to answer that," Sonic declared, being the first one to recover from my rant. Before turning to me, locking eyes with me. "What in the world is the matter with you Princess?" The answer was simple, I hated Sir Charles for giving up the fight. For asking everyone to run when victory was so tantalizingly close, for refusing to save Mobius.
"Sir Charles, if you cared about atonement," I began, ignoring Sonic. "If you really cared about things like justice and doing good. Once you had recovered your mental faculties, you would have stood trial for your punishment."
"Sal, that's not fair, it was Robotnik that did those things, not Uncle Chuck! He doesn't deserve to be punished," Sonic challenged.
"Of course, it's fair! When a criminal commits a crime, just like he did, their intentions are mitigating factors. Not a free pass. Just because he is righting his wrongs now doesn't mean his crimes are forgiven," I said, pointing an accusatory finger at the Robian.
"Sal!" I found myself being grabbed by Sonic. It wasn't until now that I really noticed how livid the speedster had become. "You're a piece of work you know that? How dare you say something like that to my Uncle! He doesn't deserve that and you know it."
"Do I?" I challenged, only serving to anger the hedgehog further.
Cognizance seemed to flood back into the Robian, his body tautened as though being bound by ropes woven from sheer turmoil. Before the momentary paralysis departed, dissolving as though it had never been "You… may be right, Sally." Sir Charles finally spoke up, earning the attention of the others. "I might… deserve to be put in prison for the rest of my days." the robotic voice wavered. "But I couldn't bear it…"
The cellar fell silent once more, processing what Sir Charles had said. Looking up at him, I was surprised by the appearance of the Robian. He managed to look doleful, mixed with desperation, and maybe even a little fear. I didn't care. All I could hear was his condemnation of millions to continued slavery. My hatred for him rose. Never before, had I felt such a level of vitriolic hate before or since. This time, it was not breath but self-control I fought to keep. Only when the battle was won did I trust myself to continue my admonition. As I did, my tone was no longer white-hot with intensity but instead hard and flat. "As Princess, I see the wisdom of letting you stay here rather than stand trial. In doing so, I've administered a worse punishment to you." I went on, noting a look of confusion from my companions.
"By letting you stay, I've let you see the result of your mistakes every day. Year after year, you'll get to see your fellow Robians turned to scrap. But because of your natural self-preservation instincts, You'll be forced to outlive all of them." I paused, letting each poisoned barb sink its hooks in before continuing. "You'll long to die more than anything else, but your immortality won't allow it."
The Robian trembled as though in deep pain. Another heavy pause followed before I let out a huff. For a moment, I really questioned myself as to whether or not anyone could ever deserve such a punishment. I didn't have to ponder for long though. Not when I recalled the countless lines of enslaved Robians working in the tunnels, victims of Sir Charles's invention. "I'm glad," I declared. "I hope you live forever, Sir Charles." I sneered. "I hope your suffering never ends, you deserve it."
"Sal, how could you be so horrible?" Sonic pulled me towards himself, his voice on the verge of trembling as well. "How could you say something like that?"
I opened my mouth to reply, only to hesitate due to a strange sound. The Robian visibly shuddered, clutching his head as though in deep pain. However, the sight of the Robian attempting to cry didn't last long as Sir Charles bolted out of the cellar with astonishing speed. "No Uncle, wait!" Sonic called but made no attempt to chase him down.
Instead, he turns towards me with an expression that sends a chill down my spine. It was as if his customary warmth and laughter had evaporated. I knew it would be pointless to reach him now as whatever placating words Sally knew would bounce off like hard rain. "What screwed you up so badly?" Sonic shook his head, almost at a complete loss as what to say next. "You're broken, Sal." A part of me had to admit, maybe I had taken things too far.
"Get this back home," Sonic said, holding out the silvery disk. Nack nodded palming it, before slipping away. I drew a deep breath, pressing myself against the cellar wall.
As soon as Nack was out of sight, I felt a breeze. Which was all the time it took for Sonic to bolt behind me and hold my head within in his hands, one of which gripped my jaw. There was no sensation of pain, or even discomfort, only firm gloved hands. I felt my blood draining and my heart hammering erratically in my chest. I stifled back a whimper. I knew he could reduce me to a stain in an instant, and there was nothing I could do about it.
"Sal, tell me something only you would know," Sonic said in a flat tone before releasing my jaw and allowing me to speak. Was this it? Did he suspect I was some sort of robot? I took a shallow breath.
"You were five when we were at Elias's birthday. He got a train set. Which dad wouldn't let me have. So, while you distracted him, I stole the caboose and slipped you the engine. He found out and broke my arm. But I managed to chip his tooth. When I was grounded, you gave me the engine. I didn't thank you then, but I kept it. The engine I mean, not the tooth. Because keeping the tooth would be creepy."
Sonic threw up his arms in disbelief. His expression softened. "Don't cha know it, I thought you had forgotten about that …" he began before his expression morphed into a disappointed scowl. "I know we need to do bad things to win sometimes but don't you ever speak to my uncle that way again."
"Of course, I wasn't myself when I said those things. Are we good?" I asked. I didn't need Sir Charles's permission. So long as Rotor could get NICOLE repaired she would manage just as well in his place.
"You're my best friend Sal. Of course, I would never hurt you just … don't bring this up again alright?"
"You're right I was out of line. I won't do that again. I promise." Sonic turned and headed for the tunnels. "Wait. You're just going to walk off?" I asked nervously. With our guide who knows how far gone, we would struggle to retrace our steps through the byzantine maze of tunnels.
"Look, Sal, please don't push things any further. I've made my choice. I'd rather pretend this never happened. I just wished I knew what's eating ya … it's about Bunnie isn't it?" he asked.
Sonic may not have been very academically inclined, but he was far from stupid. "Sonic, meeting your Uncle here wasn't my only objective coming here. Bunnie is dying." I let the words hang for a minute. It wouldn't be too late to run the rational part of my mind yelled. My heart told me it wasn't right guilt tripping Sonic into coming and my gut instinct told me it would be safer together. "And I'll need your help breaking into Robotnik's citadel to find her medicine," I finished after a pregnant pause.
Sonic's face once torn and conflicted now seemed to regain much of its previous character and energy. "That sounds a lot more like the Sal I know. Alright, I'm the expert here. So, I'm in charge. Follow my lead and we should be there lickety-split."
I wished I shared his bravado. I truly did. "So, fearless leader what's the plan?"
"Well, the last time I got out of ole Buttnik's place was through the old sewer grate. But Lardnik won't be fooled the same way twice. We'll need a guide. Say Sal don't you happen to have a radio with you?"
"Yeah, I do," I reply, extricating a handheld from my 'Boot Pouch' where NICOLE was normally kept. "If you use them for more than a few minutes, Robotnik will be able to track us," I cautioned. "Don't forget to continue your conversations from a different radio. It'll make it harder for Robotnik to track."
"Thanks, Sal. Need it to contact our guide, Ari. The one ram who's crazy enough to make it here." It sounded incredible. A living breathing Mobian here? In the heart of Robotropolis? It aroused my suspicion. Equally, having a guide in the treacherous landscape was invaluable.
"That's … a good idea actually. Just don't forget to give him our location in code. You'll never know who's listening in," I cautioned.
"He'll be awhile. Till then, we can rest here. I'll take first watch."
"Thanks, Sonic … I really appreciate it," I say with genuine gratitude.
I lie on the hard concrete floor beneath a threadbare blanket left behind by a long-absent survivor. I think of Tails and Sally's memories of a simpler time flooded through my time flowed through my head as I try to rest.. He may wear on my patience sometimes. But it's always a rewarding experience. He will never know the pain and hardship his adoptive parents go through. Not at least as long as I draw breath…
The small lawn just west of the slanted, dying sycamore had been getting unwieldy. So, I decided to make this necessary chore into a training exercise for the young kit. While I may have wished for Tails' childish innocence to remain intact as long as possible, I could not in good conscience neglect the development of his fighting skills. So, I set him in a circle and instructed him to trim the grass within the radius using his powers.
Tails asked me innocently if we would ever return to Freedom Fighter HQ. I know Geoffrey feels the loss worst of all. We shouldn't be abandoning our breakwater against Robotnik's invasion he argues. But we had no way of expanding our numbers if every training drill chanced a robot encounter. So, I told him that we might once things were settled down.
He asked if this training will make him a hero like Sonic. I know blades of grass make poor substitutes for genuine targets. Nonetheless, I told him it would better prepare him for the inevitable challenges ahead. He nodded and presented no further questions, apparently taking my words at face value.
Tails channelled chaos energies into his twin fluffy namesakes and swept them about like a pair of living lawnmower blades, kicking up a miniature whirlwind of clods of dirt and grass clippings. This training will teach him to better deliver tail strikes into our foes and may serve to save his life one day. I wonder if I will ever be able to send him into open combat. This thought sickens me. The thought of bearing offspring myself sickens me. A surge of unpleasant nausea rose inside me every time I reminded myself of what had transpired.
There was a point in her childhood where Sally vowed never to procreate. She had however been reaching that age of relevant physical maturity. When any species does that, they have urges. Shallow urges to fulfil base desires, deeper ones to propagate their family.
I spent a long time trying to deny what happened. Only to find myself trying to recall every sensation, every touch and feeling. I remembered blurting out a giggle as Geoffrey St. John straddled me and pinned my upper arms against my tree. His sweet whisperings on how good I make things.
I remembered feeling angry; at myself; for not withholding for tomorrow what feels better to spend today; for giving in. I dislike that term, but what better word is there? 'Indulged' implies an acknowledgement of guilt and 'erred' makes it seem like it was. No, I was angry; most of all, that the experience hadn't been more significant. But as the novelty wore off, I realized that however wrong my self- indulgent behaviour was, the act wasn't inherently unforgivable.
So, I wanted it to happen again.
I know I am making excuses for myself. My place is to serve my people. Not to fulfil shallow, petty, physical desires. But in spite of the responsibility I bear. I can't extricate my own personal desires from those of my ambitions. I can't.
After that experience I noticed my trainees seeming unusually antsy when I had returned. This confused me for far too long until I realized that I would normally train with them. Even if we didn't, I would communicate and encourage them. Larry the Lynx just nodded and told me what they had accomplished in my absence. It's good that my people are learning to step up and pick up the slack. But that makes me feel more disappointed in myself.
My people are so unbelievably trusting that they let me leave on a whim. Why isn't there more oversight? Why won't anyone say, 'No Sally, you're special. You can't do that. That's not for you'. No one ever tells me what I can and cannot do. This means I never know if I'm doing the right thing.
I knew I was smitten. But I don't know if this was love, along with all of its associated complexities and contradictions. All I knew was that it was too late to turn back, but I didn't want to anyway. That, despite how roughly and unpredictably we came together. A princess trying to be a queen and a military cadet trying to be a warrior... I didn't want us to be apart.
He has avoided me for the past several days now afterwards. Actually, that is not accurate. He didn't seek me out. Nonetheless, I remember I felt hurt. I found myself looking over my shoulders more than I normally do. I was confused about the war, I was confused about myself. I wondered what was expected of me. How much I could withhold without being accused of selfishness. How much I could control without being called overbearing and dictatorial. Leadership is a very subtle balancing act.
I heard Geoffrey is calling for me and I tell Tails to stop and get himself cleaned up. There's a motley assortment of new residents that needed to be welcomed.
I know it grows more unlikely with each passing year but I still hoped my brother will be among them. It doesn't matter to me if he was like the rest of them; scared, hungry, and afraid. He needn't arrive at the head of an army to save the day. I don't have that fantasy anymore.