Chapter 7
Sonia raced home, stopping just once to get her hair wet to make it look like she left the salon to change clothes.
"Sonic, do you really plan to enter that race? It's a trap," Manic said.
Sonia came in, hands on her hips. "He better not be planning to get in that race." She glared at their impetuous brother.
"Sonia, what are you doing back so soon? You said you would be gone for hours," Sonic asked.
"Oh, I just saw the announcement and knew I needed to come home and make sure you knew not to enter that race," Sonia snapped. "You're not entering, got that!"
Sonic rolled his eyes. "Sis, Robotnik has yet to come up with the plan that can catch me. I'll be fine. Besides, you shouldn't have gone to that dance yet you did."
Sonia growled. "That was different. Robotnik knows nothing is faster than you. When you win, no matter what disguise you wear, he will know it's you. He had no reason to even guess that I would be at that ball. He wasn't looking for me as you thought he was." And why was that again?
Sonic knew his words had been a cheap shot. He'd let her go, even agreed she should go. But only because he knew it would make her happy. Well, he loved to race. Should he give up something he enjoyed just because of Robotnik? "Look sis, I'm entering that race. You got to do something you wanted despite the danger. Yes, it's a trap. Yes, Robotnik will know it's me. But I've always been able to outwit and outplay Robotnik. There's no reason why this time should be any different. And if he doesn't recognize me then we've won one million möbiums for the Resistance. Okay. Now you and Manic can come watch or you can stay and watch on tv."
Sonia considered her brother's words. He was right. She got to go the debutante ball; despite the good chance she could have been caught. "Alright Sonic, you're right. Of course, you're counting on Robotnik keeping his word about the reward. But you need to make sure your disguise is a good one. Nothing complicated, simple is best." Sonia paused for a moment before a smile lit her face and she snapped her fingers as the thought hit her, "I got it. I'll be right back."
"Dye Sonia? Black dye?" Sonic asked when Sonia returned with several boxes of the stuff.
Sonia nodded. "Yes Sonic. You're a blue hedgehog, not a black one. If we do this right, Robotnik might just think your speed is common in some hedgehogs." She helped him apply the dye to every inch of his fur. "Okay, now give it fifteen minutes then go take a shower. Make sure to rinse until the water runs clear." Sonia set a timer. "And don't move a muscle until the timer goes off."
Sonic squirmed under the itch the dye was giving him. "This is stupid Sonia. Black dye? I want to be a blue hedgehog."
"Sonic, it's temporary. It'll be gone in a month if you shower every day." Sonia rolled her eyes at her brother. "You want to enter the race Sonic? Then you'll be a black hedgehog for a month."
The timer dinged and Sonic went to shower. Was the race really worth this? Stupid question.
He stood under the water and rinsed until the water ran clear and got out. He looked in the mirror. "Hey, not bad." He went out to his brother and sister. "How's that Sonia."
Sonia looked over the results. "Yes, very nicely done if I say so myself. Now, tomorrow, you'll also wear this to cover your medallion." She handed him a red scarf. "And these shoes." She passed him a pair of white sneakers.
Sonic took the things. "If Robotnik recognizes me in this, I'll eat this scarf." He promised.
"Now you need a name," Sonia put a hand to her chin in thought. "I know, you'll be Shadow the Hedgehog."
Sonic snapped his fingers. "I like it."
"Okay, then let us get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow," Sonia said.
The following day, the triplets headed out to the Robotropolis Speedway. The outside of the stadium was packed with spectators. Sonia pondered how she was gonna ditch Manic and get to Bartleby. Sonic had already left to register for the race under his new alias.
She saw Bartleby looking for her in the crowd and nearly called out to him. He saw her at the same time. Only reason kept her from blowing it. She carefully indicated Manic with her. She could see the gears in her fiancé's head turning until he snapped his finger and winked.
Bartleby looked around, finding a fairly attractive woman and flashed his private tickets. "Hello there my sweet, would you like to join me in my private box?" He asked her loudly.
The woman giggled. "Why Bartleby Montclair, are you asking me to be your date?"
Sonia nudged Manic. "Hey Bartleby's got private tickets. That gives me an idea."
"Should I swipe 'em?" Manic asked.
"No, stealing won't be necessary. I know what buttons to push. We'll do a better job watching for trouble from separate ends of the stadium," Sonia told him. She started to walk over to Bartleby but stopped. "Manic, what I'm doing might mean me getting cozy with him; try not to jump to conclusions."
Manic was confused but he trusted his sister. "Okay, be careful." He went to buy his own ticket.
Sonia grinned and sauntered over to Bartleby. "Hi Bartleby," she interrupted his flirting.
Bartleby pulled back his tickets. "Thank you for the conversation miss. You were most helpful." He returned his attentions to Sonia. "Let me guess, your brother's being a foolhardy ruffian as usual?"
Sonia nodded with an exasperated shrug. "I tried to warn him but he brought up the fact that I got to go to the ball when it wasn't safe. So, I helped him with a disguise that will hopefully fool Robotnik. If not well, Manic and I will have to save him."
Bartleby hugged her comfortingly. "Well, my box is right on the starting line. You'll have an ideal vantage point."
Robotnik watched from his skybox as the contestants got into place. He frowned when he saw no sign of Sonic. There was a hedgehog in the race but he was a black one he didn't recognize. "Where is Sonic? He should have been here."
"Maybe he figured out it was a trap," Sleet suggested.
Dingo scratched his head. "Or maybe that's him down there." Dingo pointed at the black hedgehog.
Sleet smacked his partner. "You oaf! Sonic is a blue hedgehog, not black." He pulled out his remote. "You enter the race. Keep an eye out for Sonic." He pushed the button, transforming Dingo into a greyhound dog.
Robotnik rubbed his temples. "I promised I would get them their son for sure this time. Where is that infernal hedgehog?"
Sonic felt a sense of satisfaction as he felt Robotnik's eyes trained on him. He had not been recognized by anyone. Now he just had to keep it cool. He could beat the SpeedBot, but if he won by too big of a margin then he would blow his cover.
He looked around at the stands. He saw Manic at the far end of the bleachers. Where was Sonia? He looked around and gasped. What was she doing with Bartleby? Why was she leaning against him? How dare that prat touch his sister! He'd kill him after the race.
"Contestants," Robotnik called. "The rules are simple, once around the track. The first to cross the line wins. The winner will receive one million möbiums. Second place will receive 500,000 möbiums. Third place will receive a 100,000. Of course, that's assuming all three are faster than the SpeedBot. Now, on your mark, get set, go!" He pulled the trigger on his flare pistol.
Sonic let the SpeedBot get a small lead from the start before starting with the rest.
Sonia leaned against Bartleby as they watched the race. The two barely paid any attention to the event, too busy simply savoring their closeness. "This is nice..." She said softly.
"It really is my darling, finally a little privacy," he turned his face to hers, finding her mouth with ease. She hoped Manic would interpret this as part of her getting cozy plan. And hopefully, Sonic was too busy racing.
Sonic was tempted to book it as fast as possible just to get Bartleby away from his sister but he forced himself to hold it together. He was leading against an orange greyhound type dog and a horse. The SpeedBot was just barely ahead as he passed Manic. Finally he took the chance to pull ahead of the robot just a hair, acting like it was taking every ounce of power that he had left. It was taking every ounce of power he had to keep it so slow. He focused on his next task of killing a certain rich idiot to help. He couldn't do that if he was caught.
Robotnik watched the black hedgehog closely. Sonic would be miles ahead of the SpeedBot by now. "Gods Maria, what am I going to tell them? Another night with their family splintered in two. Another night without their son." He put down his binoculars and stood as the contestants finally crossed the line. His SpeedBot came in third with the orange greyhound in second and the black hedgehog in first.
"Congratulations contestants," He announced sportingly while carrying two bags of money. He wasn't going to award the SpeedBot. Robots didn't need money. "Second place!" He handed the bouncing orange greyhound the first check. "Your name sir?"
Suddenly a beam hit the greyhound and he changed back into Dingo. "Yea, I got second place! 500,000 smackers!" He ran off. "Sleet, I won second place!"
Robotnik shook his head. Dingo had to have been dropped on his head as a baby. It's the only thing that made any sense. "And our first place winner, one million möbiums. Your name sir?"
"Shadow the Hedgehog," the black hedgehog declared. "The fastest thing on two feet." He accepted the check. "Thanks Buttnik!" The hedgehog clapped a hand over his mouth.
Robotnik realized he'd nearly been tricked. "Sonic! SWATBots capture him!"
The SWATBots converged on Sonic's spot. The hedgehog thrust the check in his shoes. "It's been fun Butthead but I gotta go!" With a blur Sonic took off past the SWATBots before they could get too close.
Sonia was surprised that Sonic got so far before blowing it. She was sure he'd race like he normally does. Instead he made it up until he had the money.
She gave Bartleby a quick peck on the cheek. "I gotta go. I love you Bartleby. I'll see you tonight for sure." She hurried off. She knew he was watching her every step of the way.
AN: Uh oh, is Sonia in a little bit of trouble?
