Chapter 5
Robotnik put a hand to his head as he lamented his failed rescue plan. "Those hedgehogs ruin everything every time! How much longer must I endure this? I'm an old man, Maria. Give me the strength to go on."
"Robotnik, Mr. Stripes is here to see you," Sleet announced at the door to the computer room.
Robotnik turned. Perhaps things were looking up after all. "Show him in." The tiger was given entry and he immediately knelt in respect. "What do you have to report Stripes?"
"Finding a safe place large enough… one that the Resistance does not know of, is difficult," Stripes admitted. "However, I may have found a place. There's an island in the South Seas. The people there are suffering from a lack of food because the fishing has gone bad. They may be willing to sell but will require a hefty price to supplement the people's needs and a new home as well."
Robotnik stood. "I will thus need a way to raise funds for the island. Stripes begin negotiations. Tell them I will pay any price they ask for and give them a home here in Robotropolis. A quadrant all their own designed to their specifications. In the meantime," Robotnik got up and went to a painting. He pressed a button to reveal a box behind the painting. "I think the time may have come for me to use this. Sleet, call my archaeologists! Tell them to report to me first thing in the morning. And my excavators too!"
Stripes stood and bowed. "I will start negotiations at once Sire." He turned to leave but stopped. "Sire, is there any news on your end? My little sister?"
Robotnik sighed. "Not yet Stripes. I'm pretty sure your sister is in the place the Resistance calls Sanctuary but I have yet to reach it. I will get her back. I promise."
Stripes clenched his fists in frustration. "The Resistance will pay. One day."
Robotnik shook his head. "Try not to bear too big a grudge boy. By now, most of the Resistance members are simply children who were misled by the first generation. It is not their fault they were deceived. Bitterness solves nothing. I should know…"
The tiger trembled. "I hate them. I hate them all. My parents, my sister… I'll never be able to forgive them."
"You must try," Robotnik ordered. "Your hate will not save your sister. It will not bring back your mother and father. It will only destroy you."
Stripes took a set of deep breaths. "I will try to remember that but… it will be hard. I must go. The island is at least a few days to the south of here." He left.
Robotnik watched the tiger leave. "So many people Maria. So many people are counting on me to protect them, to save them. It is nearly impossible though when so many despise you. The Resistance ruins all of my plans with those hedgehogs. What can I do? How can I help my people?" He turned to the painting behind him and looked into the beautiful blue eyes of his late wife. "I need your help Maria. I cannot do it on my own."
Sonia and Bartleby spent the rest of their evening right in the courtyard, basking in their closeness.
"I can't believe I ever said no to this," Sonia said as they stopped making out for a brief moment. "I feel better than I have in a long time. Why?"
Bartleby pet her head. "Because Sonia, I love you. I love you without any conditions. I only need you, just as you are. I don't expect you to change for me."
"Yeah, maybe that's it," she agreed returning her lips to his.
Only the midnight bell brought an end to their cuddling. Sonia looked at the clock. "We should go. My brothers will come looking for me if I'm not home soon. And Robotnik could find us here."
"What do you want to tell them?" Bartleby asked as they walked back to his carriage. "About us?"
"They can't know… so, as far as anyone is concerned, when I'm with my brothers… we dislike each other. I'll tell them we had a fight. That you wanted me to leave the Freedom Fighters. Can you act like you're mad at me?" She asked.
He shook his head. "It won't be easy, but for your sake, I will try. If that's what you want. But when we're alone."
Her hands touched his cheek. "When we're alone…" As the carriage started on its way, their arms became entwined.
Sonic and Manic were toasting their success when they heard the door open and Sonia stomped in.
"Yeah! Same to you!" She slammed the door. "I don't know what I ever saw in him! He's the biggest jerk there is!"
Sonic and Manic exchanged glances. "Whoa sis, what happened? Are you alright?" Sonic asked.
"I'm fine Sonic. I got to go to the dance and it was beautiful. But then on the way home, Bartleby kept trying to talk me into leaving you guys!" She explained. "He kept saying Mother doesn't deserve to be Queen and we should just accept Robotnik as our ruler! The nerve of him! Well forget him! I'm going to get changed and go to bed. Good night."
She slipped into her bedroom and locked the door. A tapping came at her window right on time. She hurried and opened it.
"So, next week then my love?" Bartleby asked as he kissed her.
Sonia nodded. "Yes. Wednesday at nine o'clock in the evening. I'll try to come sooner if I can." She kissed him.
"Take care my darling. Be careful on your missions. Don't get caught or hurt, please," he said. "I love you." One last kiss and Bartleby had to leave lest they risk being caught.
Sonia watched him leave, inwardly feeling a lot lighter than she had since she first joined the Resistance. Suddenly, she was looking forward to the next mission. Whatever it would be. As long as it wasn't on Wednesday.
AN: Set up for the next section of the story. I'll be following certain episodes, mostly ones where Bartleby is featured in some form, to a certain extent. We also see some other motives behind Robotnik's actions. Yes, I like changing things up, it's fun. Sonic Underground is an excellent cartoon! And Sonia and Bartleby are the best cartoon couple since Diamond and Serena from Sailor Moon.
