Chapter 16

Bartleby stared horrorstruck as he realized the implications of Dingo's presence.

"Come on Dingo, we have some hedgehogs to round up," Sleet ordered.

Dingo gave Bartleby a quick, meaningful look but Bartleby had no time to figure out its meaning before the large canine took off after his friend. He made a mental note to talk to him later.


Outside the hut, Dingo burst into sobs and latched onto Sleet's waist. "Oh thank you Sleet! That was terrible!" The bounty hunter was obviously traumatized. "Oh Sonia…"

Sleet rolled his eyes and forced Dingo off of him. "Dingo, you idiot! Stop that. You knew you had no chance with her."

Dingo did know but it didn't change the hurt he felt. It still hurt to see Sonia with another. "What should I do? He knows I was there."

Sleet considered the problem and his orders to keep Bartleby in the dark that they knew anything at all. "If he doesn't bring it up, neither will you. You still know nothing. I will, as per my orders, pretend to be equally clueless about the situation. If he does bring it up, you will agree to keep quiet about it." Dingo nodded. That would be easy enough. "Now, go after those hedgehogs. I think I need to talk to the Chief." He drew attention to the approaching man before Dingo dashed off.

"Mr. Sleet," Takai began. "What is going on? I do not understand."

Sleet holstered his gun. "Sorry for the anarchy Chief. Those hedgehogs are a trio of fugitives that we have been attempting to apprehend for some length of time. Members of a resistance faction that have been opposing Lord Doctor Robotnik for many years."

Takai gasped. "Criminals? Are they dangerous?"

Sleet shrugged. "Somewhat but not in the way you might think. They, themselves, would never harm you. Not intentionally. However… their little rebel group is." Takai was obviously confused but accepted the response before Sleet became all business. He pulled out a collection of phials from his pocket. "I need you to have your people ready to be evacuated at a moment's notice."

Takai gaped at the wolf. "Why, and what are those for?"

Sleet knelt and collected a sample of the city beneath their feet. "There's a strange smell coming from the water around your island. It's possible that your island has been polluted. Dr. Robotnik has asked that I send him samples of the water and soil and to have you ready to leave if they are dangerous."

Takai bit his lip. His island, polluted? "Could that be why the fish are gone? Why the trees will not give us fruit?"

Sleet looked him in the eye. "It is a distinct possibility that is the case. We won't know until the tests are run. Until then, just be ready."


Robotnik tried to wait patiently for the transmission from Sleet. He couldn't help feeling a sensation of defeat. Is the island was polluted then he certainly could not use it for his people.

"Again Maria. Again, my efforts for naught," he bemoaned. "What's the point in this? Perhaps… perhaps I ought to just return Aleena to power. The people love her, they despise me. It would end the war." He looked outside, towards the quarter. "No… my people… he might… then they would be in worse danger. But what can I do? I cannot keep this up much longer Maria."

"Yes, Julian, you can," the Oracle said as he appeared in his green aura. "You must. Maria would not want you to give up."

"What more can I do?" Robotnik snapped. "All of efforts turn up nothing. I have been continually unsuccessful in apprehending those hedgehogs. If I could… if I could get them somewhere safe. If I could get Aleena… I could let the truth come out then. Out the true tyrant, the true criminal in all of this."

"It is always darkest before the dawn my friend," the Oracle told him, encouragingly. "In fact, I bring a message of hope. I have had another vision. Soon, something will happen, a seed will be planted. From that seed, peace will come. His plans, they will fail, your good name restored, for one truth will always prevail." His voice echoed about the room as he vanished, leaving the despot alone to ponder the meaning of this prophecy.


"We will not join you," Takai declared to the three hedgehogs.

Sonic was shocked by the chief's decision. "Why not? We could take care of you. Give you a new home and food."

Sonia watched from the sidelines. She couldn't help noticing that this battle had ended quickly and things had calmed again.

"In exchange for what? Your aid comes with a price. You said it yourself. We would be an asset in your war with Robotnik," Takai replied. "Not only are we a peaceful tribe, but we could not war with one who gave us food when we would have starved to death. He has asked nothing in return but to purchase our island and give us a new, fruitful home. To fight him now would be to compromise our honor."

Sonic growled. "Robotnik knows nothing about honor! He's evil and… he roboticizes innocent people! He makes them into his slaves! He's probably the reason your fish are gone! You don't owe him any kind of loyalty!"

Takai's eyes narrowed as Sonia felt the sudden need to shut her brother up by grabbing his arm. "If you would ask me to go against the one who saved my people that suggests to me that you know nothing of honor. Now I advise you to leave my island." Though it was anything but simple, friendly advice.

Sonic jumped at the notion and wanted to continue trying to convince the chief but Sonia and Manic both pulled him away.

"Sonic, let's just go," Sonia said. "They don't want our help."

"Yeah, let's go!" Manic agreed. It bothered him that Sonic was getting so defensive.

Sonic grunted and pulled away from his siblings. "No! Mom sent us to help you!" He insisted. "That's what we're trying to do! We can't let Robotnik destroy you or this beautiful place!"

Takai nodded sharply. "And I am grateful for your concern. Now leave!" Sonic was about to press on until he added. "Before I turn you over to Mr. Sleet."

"Okay guys…" Sonic said dejectedly. Neither of them saw Sleet hidden in the shadows as they left to find their van.


The Oracle returned to his cave to work on a new spell. He needed to make sure that Sonia would never know what Dingo had seen. "I should also see that Sleet cannot tell either. Though I do hate to meddle with their thoughts."


Robotnik was ready when the samples arrived. He went immediately to work. He separated the samples into multiple individual petri dishes. Into each dish went a drop of a different chemical. On a chart he recorded any immediate reactions. Some samples did not produce a reaction. These he placed into a containment unit. He would wait and record any reactions they produced, if anything. One sample each of both water and soil, he placed over Bunsen burners on low.

Soon the water boiled and the scientist immediately had to cover his mouth and nose with a face mask. The stench was foul. "Good gods! What a stink!" He could smell what Sleet had spoken of. Before the heat, he hadn't been able to smell a thing. Now, however… "I need to get them off of that island. As soon as possible!"


AN: Chapter 16 done. For those watching my schedule, we had some clients at work this week, interrupting my writing. So this story will get one more chapter before I move on to Forever Young. This isn't done but after 17, this story will be on hiatus. Now please, if you read, please review. And if you get a call from Heather Mattingly telling you about something from Stonebridge, that's me. I'm a telemarketer now. Please help me by taking the product lol.