Chapter 1

Sleet and Dingo returned back to the palace a few days later with a disc of video data. "We thought the best way to get your answers was to have Dingo go in disguise wearing a recording device. So you're not having to go by hearsay which can be tainted by personal opinion."

Robotnik took the disc with trepidation. He hadn't been able to focus on any kind of plans to bring down the hedgehogs over the last couple of days. The last twenty years had been flashing before his eyes as he tried to understand how Bartleby could put any of the blame for the war on him. That wasn't fair. It was Aleena's fault. Her husband started this. He just wanted to finish it. Wasn't that his right?

"I'm not going to like what I see… am I?" He looked to the wolf.

Sleet saw the man's expression and realized something might be happening. "I wish I could say you were wrong… Oh, how I wish I could say you were wrong…" He trembled and backed away from the scientist, wondering if he would need to be ready to defend himself.

Robotnik put the disc into his computer and pulled the video up on the screen. He watched Dingo approaching groups of people in disguise. He didn't even need to push too hard to get people to start tearing down at his quality of leadership. "A tyrant? A monster… Bartleby was right… they see a monster…" He blinked as though these were new words. On a surface level, he knew what they were saying. The Underground wasn't shy about it.

"Sire, if you don't mind me asking… Why would this bother you now? You've always known what they thought of you." Sleet asked him. "You're the most powerful man in the kingdom. You don't need anyone…" Why did he care what they were saying? "Sire, if we don't do something with the location of the hedgehogs, we'll lose them again. They move frequently."

The dictator looked at the video. "Forget the hedgehogs. Summon the nobles to my throne room. Make sure Bartleby is there." He ordered.

"Yes, sir. When do you want them there?" Sleet asked.

"As soon as they can get their collective keisters here. Tell Dingo to prepare my personal airship." He ordered as he went to his rooms.

Sonia Hedgehog was riding her bike around the city with her shawl covering her face. Robotnik had been quiet for the last few days and she was taking advantage. She loved riding her bike. It was one of the few joys that she had left since joining the Freedom Fighters. She loved her brothers and she wanted to find her mother and beat Robotnik but she had no life outside of that. She was supposed to be married by now, possibly with a child on the way. She was supposed to be racing in the Robotropolis racing circuit. She was supposed to be hanging out with Mindy and helping her with her fashion business. Instead, she was squatting in a little rundown warehouse converted into a serviceable home. Everyone squatted in Robotropolis, very few legitimately owned or rented given the state of affairs.

As she thought about the way things were supposed to be, she found her path taking her to the egg-fortress in the center of the city. She always wondered why Robotnik didn't just live in the palace. It was technically his now. She frowned when she saw the nobility entering the fortress and pulled out her phone. "Hey guys, come down to the Robuttnik's. He's having some kind of gathering."

She didn't have to wait long for her brothers to arrive thanks to Sonic's super speed. "Wow! Good catch sis." Sonic said. "This can't mean anything good for the Sonic Underground."

Manic nodded. "Wonder what's up." He led the way to the ventilation system. "Robotnik is never up to anything good." He agreed with his brother as they crawled through the ductwork until they reached the throne room.

Sonia gaped when she saw Bartleby standing off to the side. He seemed anxious about something. "Bartleby…" She missed him so much. She smiled as she daydreamed what it would be like to be standing with him at that moment.

Sonic looked at her. "Sis, are you having dirty thoughts?" He teased only for her to slap him.

"Citizens of Robotropolis!" Robotnik's booming voice was heard from the stage. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I have an announcement. Tomorrow, I am leaving the city on a brief sabbatical." He nodded as the nobles looked at him in perplexity. "I'll be gone for a week. In the interim, Bartleby will be in charge and the city will be run his way."

Bartleby could have been knocked over by a feather at this announcement. "What? Oh no, no, no…" He kept protesting while Sleet and Dingo pushed him up onto the stage. "No, no, no… I can't be the leader. No… I know nothing about running a kingdom!"

Everyone laughed, including Sonia from the air vent at his sudden shyness. But none laughed harder or louder than Robotnik. "You run Dresden like a well-oiled machine. This is the same work, just on a larger scale. And I'll be gone for a week. Not enough time for anything to go drastically wrong. While I'm gone there will be no fighting."

Bartleby shook his head frantically. "No… no… I can't… What if the resistance… I don't know the first thing… what if…" He coughed hoarsely as his throat closed up, his breaths short and wheezy.

Robotnik quickly got him to a chair, the nearest chair being the throne, and handed him the inhaler. "Breathe boy. Take your medicine and breathe. Nothing is going to happen…"

Up in the vents, Sonia looked at Sonic. "We'll need to make sure there are no missions this week guys."

Sonic sighed. "I didn't know Bartleby used an inhaler. Does he have asthma?"

Sonia nodded. "Yeah… it's why I never even tried asking him to join. He's not supposed to be in the city often. We can take a week off right?"

"Can we afford to?" Sonic asked her. "Bartleby can't fight back. This could be a golden opportunity. And we wouldn't hurt him."

Manic shrugged. "Ehhh, I don't think I'd want to win that way. It seems underhanded to me." He scratched his head. "Mom wouldn't be happy with us if we did that."

Sonic realized he was outvoted and nodded as he heard Robotnik continue. "I'll be back in a week Bartleby. And you'll be able to do it right from your home in Dresden. You'll have Sleet and Dingo to protect you. You can do it, calm yourself..." Those were the words he used to hear from Uncle Chuck. If he didn't know better, he'd say that Robotnik was acting almost like a dad to the nobleman. For a moment, he couldn't help glaring at the pair. He watched Bartleby shake the little metal canister and take another puff.

"Sonic, let's get out of here before we're caught," Sonia said gently. "Tomorrow, I'll go talk to Bartleby. We don't have to do any overt attacks this week but it doesn't mean we can't try to turn it into something." She looked down at her former lover with longing. She needed to get out of there before she ran to his side to comfort him. "Bartleby…" She sighed. It was no use. Their day in the sun was over. "Oh, I love you..." She whispered, a tear dripping down her cheek as they left and falling through the vent.

Next time on Man in the Mirror - Robotnik visits an acquaintance for advice on his situation. Sonia goes to see Bartleby. Aleena learns that Robotnik has left the city alone and sees her own golden opportunity.