Can I Have This Dance 15
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Chapter 15
As Bartleby was now the official negotiator on the project, Takai normally would have been having tea with the mink. However, he sensed that Bartleby was a little young to be entertained by an old bear such as him. So instead, he extended the customary invitation to the wolf, Sleet. Sleet would have preferred scotch but accepted the offer of tea. He was still on the job.
"I do apologize for my son, Mr. Sleet. I just don't know what to do," Takai lamented. "He loves the island. So do we all. It'll be quite painful to leave."
"But as you said," Sleet stated. "If you stay, then you will starve. Your son understandably is attached to his home. This is the unpleasant part of being a parent. He is just a child and he does not know what is best for him. As the adult, you do."
Takai sighed. "I suppose you have children, Mr. Sleet."
Sleet shrugged. "Technically no, but I did practically raise Dingo. After our parents died. So I do sort of understand your dilemma."
"Dingo, he's the big orange dog, right?" Takai asked. "I'm sorry if it is rude but I am curious, is he…"
Sleet considered the chief. He had told no one of his history thus far. However, he felt inclined to trust this man. "Dingo's a special case. Arrested development as the result of witnessing the death of our parents. Well, his parents. I was a homeless orphan and they took me in. Our parents were murdered by bandits and Dingo and I both saw from our hiding place in the hidden cupboard. I had to be the strong one. Dingo was traumatized by the incident and he never really recovered. He was only four when it happened. I torment him about his… but it's to keep things relatively normal. Only an asshole would chew out a man with a mental disorder."
Takai gaped at the wolf. "I'm sorry."
Sleet shook his head. "Just don't say anything. It's nobody else's business. Now I need to go contact Robotnik." He drained his tea cup and stood to leave.
In the ship, Sleet used the communicator to get Robotnik on the screen. "So far so good, Dr. Robotnik. The deal will likely go through no problem."
Robotnik nodded. "Good, good. Is it as bad as Stripes says it is?"
"Worse, sire," Sleet replied. "The villagers are gaunt, their skin and eyes sunken. Their only food is the negotiation food we bring. And there's an odd smell coming from the water."
"An odd smell?" Robotnik jumped on the new information. "Stripes said nothing about a smell."
Sleet nodded and explained. "He likely didn't detect it. It's such a subtle odor I thought I was imagining it and I am a wolf, my sense of smell is perfect."
Mulling over this new problem, Robotnik issued new instructions. "Collect and teleport me samples of the water and soil. Tell Chief Takai what you are doing and be sure he's ready for an emergency evacuation if it's necessary."
Sleet immediately went for the test kit. "Yes sire."
"I expect them in an hour. Now, how is Bartleby? Any sign of trouble?" Robotnik asked.
"No sir, Dingo's with him as we speak," Sleet assured him.
Sonic and Manic followed Mantu into the village. Manic's mouth fell open as he looked around at the villagers.
"Mantu, why does everyone look so sick?" Manic asked. And they did. They looked awful. Sunken-in eyes and cheeks. Their fur was dull and flat and their flesh was sickly pale.
"That's why we need your help," Mantu said. "Our food is gone. There is nothing for us to eat and my people are starving. So I prayed to the Guardians for help. And now you are here. You can fix it. You can save my people, and we won't have to leave!"
Both hedgehogs came to a stop and shared a glance. Sonic sighed. "Mantu, we would love to help but… you've got it all wrong. We're not gods."
Mantu ignored them and ran in among is people. "Everyone, everyone look! The Guardians are here! The Guardians have come to save us!"
Sonic and Manic looked and felt like two deer caught in headlights as the villagers rushed them in excitement.
"Um, Sonic, what do we do?" Manic asked when the tribe began bowing to them.
Sleet heard the commotion going on outside the ship. He peered out the window. "Damn, it's those blasted hedgehogs!" He was about to act on this new development but doubled back to the window. "One, two… one is missing." He went for the communicator linked to Dingo. Quietly, he asked into the device. "Dingo, is Bartleby alone right now?" The only response was some soft sobbing and the sounds of the bed creaking in the background. Sleet cringed and shuddered. He'd better go rescue his partner.
Takai watched his tribe bowing to the strangers. While they did resemble their gods, he had his doubts. He slowly approached and bowed at the waist, just in case. "Mantu, what is going on?"
Mantu grabbed his father by the hand. "Father, it is the Guardians! They've come to save us."
Takai pat his son on the head. "Have you really come to save us?"
Sonic felt relieved that the Chief seemed to have a head on his shoulders. "Actually, we tried to tell Mantu, we're not gods. The resemblance between us and your statues are just coincidence."
Takai figured as much. "I apologize. Mantu is so desperate to stay. However, as I tried to tell him, we have no choice. There is no food. Dr. Robotnik has assured us…"
"Whoa!" Sonic leapt at the beginning of that statement. "Whoa! Anything he's promised is sure to be a lie."
Manic agreed. "Yeah. Robotnik will just destroy this beautiful place. You definitely shouldn't sell."
Takai's eyes narrowed. That did not sound like the man who had been sending them food and potable water. It did not sound like the man who had not even made an attempt to cheat them on the value of their land. "I'm not sure I can agree. He and his people have only respectful to us and our culture."
Sonic scoffed. "He's just doing that until he gets what he wants. Once he does, I'll bet you dollars to chili dogs, he'll just roboticize all of you."
Again the evidence did not support their words. He opened his mouth to speak and perhaps to order them off the island until he saw Mr. Sleet in the distance. The wolf gave a sharp shake of the head. "So what choice do we have? We need to survive. We have no food."
"Join the Freedom Fighters," was Sonic's instant response. We can take care of you and your people would be a great asset in the fight against Robotnik."
Sleet saw the Chief ready to challenge their offer to join them and knew the time to act had come. He drew his firearm. "Hedgehogs! You won't ruin our plans this time!" He fired into the air. "SWATBots, get them!"
The people screamed in panic and began to run about like chickens with their heads cut off. Sonic summoned his rifle and blew away a SWATBot. "Manic, get these people into the jungle!"
Manic did as Sonic ordered and led the villagers into the safety of the jungle.
Sonia and Bartleby were recovering from their excitement just as the first shots of battle were heard. She looked up and out the window.
"My brothers are in trouble," she said simply.
Bartleby knew she would go no matter what but it still was hard to watch as she dressed. She could feel his eyes on her and she turned. The heartsick look on his face melted her heart.
She leaned back down and kissed him quickly. "I'll be back Bartleby. I'll be fine. I promise." One last kiss and she dashed out of the hut.
Approximately five minutes later, Sleet burst in and aimed his remote at the ugly orange sofa. Bartleby's mouth fell open in horror as he realized the implications of this. He and Sonia had not been alone.
AN: Sorry this is so late. Trouble at work. Please review.
