- Chapter 2: Vague Theories -
"It's Eggman!" Sonic repeated. "It's gotta be!"
Knuckles groaned and rolled his eyes. "Duh Sherlock!" he said in a voice unlike his own, mocking his friend's obvious statement. Tails and Rouge giggled quitely to themselves and Knux continued to explain. "We've already assumed that! What we don't know is what, where and why!" Still sitting, he snatched the paper from Sonic's hand in the same brisk manner the hedgehog had previously done to Tails. "See, Eggman went through enough trouble to actually feign Amy's handwriting so it would look convicing..."
"...Instead of the typewritten, Eggman-stamp messege he usually leaves behind," Tails finished.
Knuckles nodded and continued. "No threats of world domination, no clues on what his intentions are, no directions on where to go, no spontaneous evil laughter--"
"Thank God..." Shadow muttered sardonically.
"Nothing but a quick little note and the fact that most of Amy's stuff is all gone."
So that's what seemed different! Sonic did a double take on his surroundings and saw several things missing. From across the hall, Amy's bedroom door was left wide open, revealing an empty closet and an unmade bed. Her room's adorable strawberry pink walls were not as cheery and light as they would always seem with her around. In the living room area, all of Amy's pictures were gone, too. Even the one that used to hang on the hallway wall. It was a picture of Amy right in the middle of tackling Sonic, grinning insanely while the male hedgehog was looking awfully shocked/traumatized. It was her favorite. They were all the things she might have taken on a faraway trip. 'Well played, Robotnik,' Sonic thought to himself. He paced around the living room couch, hands folded in front of him as his eyes remained on his echidna friend. So far, he's the one who's had all the ideas and quite frankly, Sonic didn't want to do any of the thinking.
This time, Rouge reached over and snatched the paper away from Knuckles to read it herself (boy this is getting repetitive). She read through it quickly and scoffed. "Definitely like Eggman to not think this all the way through. I mean, he got nothing right about her personality! Well, except for her sense of humor," she muttered, recalling that stupid 'history of family reunions' line. She grazed a gloved finger around the paper print roses as she was pulled deep into thought. The pause was long and unnerving. Yet when she ultimately spoke again, she said the following more to herself than to the others. "This is something big..."
Cream looked up at the bat girl curiously. "What do you mean, Ms. Rouge?" she asked meekly, slightly afraid of the answer.
Rouge glanced around her and saw Cream was not the only the only one with this question in their minds. Everyone leaned in to listen, expecting an accurate explanation from her. She simply shrugged in an opening gesture. "It's just a hunch, but don't you think the reason Eggman doesn't want to be found is because he is in need of time? To create something way beyond all the evil we have already faced?" The white bat suddenly stands without a warning causing everyone to jump back. Her face holds an expression of disbelief, for it was like she had just spoken a revelation to herself. "If that's true, we shouldn't be standing around here!" In a brisk movement, she grabs the red echidna's elbow from across the table and starts pulling him towards the entrance of the house. She only looks back to call Shadow. "Come on, Shad! We're starting a search party!"
Shadow shifts in his seat and glares at her. "Since when are you the boss of me?" he retorted, quite obviously having a bad day. Rouge couldn't tell if he was being serious or just joking around, but she shot back an evil glare that would have split his head in half if she had the power to do so. Feeling utterly defeated somewhat, Shadow got up with a bored scowl, following a strong-willed Rouge and a terribly flustered Knuckles out the door. The currently, slow-gearing mind of Sonic latterly grasped onto the fact that those three were on their way to an adventure... without him! So with an audiable gasp, he rocketed out the door behind them at the speed of sound. The gust he had created slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Cream, Tails and Big on their own inside the shuddersome empty house of Amy Rose.
The silence that followed was almost terrifying to the poor little rabbit girl. Everything seemed to echo in the large living room; even the soft sound of her foot nervously tapping against the thick pink and magenta carpet. She made small noise -a combination of a hum and a groan in her throat- and slowly turned to Tails. "Do you think we should go after them?" she asked barely above a whisper. She felt guilty knowing her best friend was in possible great danger and she was doing nothing about it.
Tails stifled a laugh; not on her account or Amy's, but thinking about the others. "All Rouge will be doing is hauling Sonic, Knuckles and Shadow into circles around town before she realizes that they need a lead to find Amy." He hops off the couch and retrieves the 'kidnapping' note that had been dropped on the floor. "And that's where we come in!" he added with a boastful smile, hands on his hips.
Cream gasped in excitement, all sorrow now replaced with hope. "You know where she is?" she squealed clasping her hands together.
The two-tailed fox coughed and 'sweatdropped'. "Erm, no..." he muttered, scratching the back of his head. He began to stutter another sentence when noticing Cream's eyes beginning to moisten again. "Bu-bu-but! But I do have an idea!" he said, waving his arms in front of him, urging her to listen. He definitely didn't want to be responsible for getting her all teared up again.
Big, who had kind of fazed out of the conversation earlier, was curious about the young fox's intentions. "What's the idea?" he drawled.
Tails grinned. In his young mind, some things were best left as a surprise. "You'll see. C'mon, follow me!" he bounded towards the door and held it open for Big and Cream to go through.
Before going outside himself, he took one last look at the untouched house. He heaved a long sigh, already missing Amy's presence in the group. It was just never the same without a member of the team, no matter who it was. Eyes downward, he remembered to lock the door and gently closed it. Since he was currently lost in his own little world, he almost didn't notice Big's large hand hoisting him up on his left shoulder. Cream sat on the opposite shoulder, staring into Tails' downcast eyes. Despite her age, her wisdom went beyond that. She could sense he had the very same grief she held, but he was apparently afraid to share it. The cute rabbit felt compelled to help him with this... explain to him there was nothing wrong with expressing a heavy heart. But it had to be another day.
Snapping out of it, Tails placed a hand over the purple cat's head and smiled weakly. "Thanks, Big. Let's head over to Sonic's house."
"Okie-Dokie," Big said, walking across the street with a bounce in his step.
Tails couldn't help but look towards Cream's direction again. Ever since he first saw her that morning, something about her just seemed really out of place, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Until it unexpectedly hit him right then and there. "Cream? Where's Cheese?" he asked, referring to Cream's light blue chao friend. That chao would always flutter about wherever the bunny girl was around. But it has been absent all day today and no one had even pointed that out.
"I... don't know," Cream said quietly with a hint of sadness. "He hasn't shown up for three days. The only time Cheese has ever done this was last summer when he was upset with me... but I can't think of anything I've done to make him so angry." She sniffled a bit, turning her head away from her friends.
On the other hand, Tails had an inquiring look upon him. Three days? They may have found Amy's note this very morning, but they hadn't seen her for two whole days before that. Was it possible she has already been gone that long along with Cheese? And if that was true, what would Eggman want them both for? The little genius' mind was already reeling with questions and theories as he led his friends towards his workshop.
---
She had kicked and screamed and done whatever she could freely do to get out of Eggman's clutches, but to no avail. She stopped wailing, but didn't bother to wipe the tears that still hung from her eyes and down to her chin. Allowing herself to be led, Amy walked at Eggman's pace. As she did this, she stared down at her feet. The fuzzy blue slippers she wore brought back memories of Cream and Cheese. They would be so devastated to find her home empty... 'I don't know if they'll be able to take it,' she thought.
Something occured that allowed her to lift her head. Eggman had abruptly stopped walking and let go of her arm. She used this short second to rub her arm in the spot where she had been grabbed, the pain still throbbing in it like a palpitating heartbeat. Seeing this as a chance to run, Amy turned the other way and before she could even sprint two steps, Eggman grabbed her and lifted her into the air by her shoulders. Amy cursed herself mentally. This wouldn't have been a problem if she were as fast as Sonic. Refusing to stare at Eggman in the eye, she turned her head and closed her eyes tightly, somewhat expecting him to strike her or spit up words of greedy triumph into her face.
The evil doctor's laugh echoed in the large, warehouse-sized area they were currently in. "You aren't going anywhere!" he said.
They had reached the end-- a section packed with computers and experimental machines along with old creations of Robotnik's, including very early prototypes of the Metal Sonic and E-series battle robots. A machine looking very much like the combination of a containment pod and an electric chair sat in a corner, isolated from all the other creations. Amy guessed this machine held some sort of significance in this villain's current plot. She discovered how right she was when Eggman strapped her into the pod, unable to move her ams and legs. The cuffs that held her tightened around her ankles and wrists every time she attempted to use force, thus pinning her harder against the uncomfortable contraption.
She looked above her head at the array of tubes that ran alongside the walls of the pod. The lid was not closed over her yet, so she could still see Eggman lingering in front of her, typing a code onto the small computer connected to the gadget. "What are going to do to me?" she demanded to know.
Dr. Eggman didn't bother to look up from his work as he spoke. "Well, Ms. Rose..." he began, still click-clacking away on the keyboard. "As a scientist, I am always in need of a reason and explanation for my latest projects. And since there's no one else around to boast to, allow me to illustrate this newfound scheme of mine to you."
Amy rolled her eyes. Not only was she the victim of this ill-minded scheme, but she was also the one to suffer through his lengthy diagnosis.
"But before that, I'd like to demonstrate its potential." He took a few steps to the right, revealing a blanketed object that Amy couldn't have seen before due to Eggman's plump physique. A thick cloth was draped over an object that looked very much like a box, but the most peculiar thing about it was that there was a visible red glow beneath it moving about. The doctor stepped up to it and grabbed the cloth, grinning wildly toward the pink hedgehog's direction and sending a chill down her spine. "Presenting exhibit number one!" he cried out, pulling away the cloth to reveal the hidden object.
Amy screamed in pure horror, her pupils receded and her face instantly turning pale at the sight. Cheese the chao stood on both legs at the bottom of a tiny cage, its eyes glowing blood red. Its once angelic, cotton candy wings were now a jagged and menacing black. It growled savagely, baring sharp, inhuman teeth at the doctor and the girl. Sobbing, Amy shut her eyes tightly, trying to erase that horrible image from her mind. But it was just too horrendous for words. "You monster!" she yelled, her closed eyes sprouting tears. "How could you do this to an innocent chao?"
Eggman ignored the question and covered the creature's cage with the cloth. "Five years ago today, I had begun a secret project unlike anything I've ever attempted to create. Not a weapon, not a transporter, but a chemical. A unique and powerful substance that could safely shut down a creature's nervous system and act as a sort of robotic serum. I had held the project into a hiatus while I tried to work out some kinks in its system, but I decided now it is time to unveil it." He smiled to himself as he continued to explain. "Each dose of this artificial serum is different, each having to do with a specific command. For example, the serum inserted into this chao turned him into a creature with the bloodthristy urge to kill, yet it is able to be controlled by a binary code..." He stepped out of sight for a few moments. Eggman rummaged through a selection of large beakers until he found the right one. It was labeled in red letters with the words 'Zenith A.I. Serum'. "While the one which I am about test will give its 'recipient' unlimited power and makes him or her obey every command it is given."
Amy Rose could only watch in panic as Eggman emptied the beaker's contents into the machine, so it could be fed into her body. "Now, don't be afraid if you feel any discomfort in your digestive system. This needed to be done with a recently satisfied stomach so that the serum juices would flow into every corner of your being along with your food, not just in your nervous system." (That explained why she had been starved for three days.) "Just think, Ms. Rose..." he said with an excited sneer. "By the time you awaken, you will become the Real ultimate lifeform." And with those last words, he reached over her head and closed the pod, leaving her in the darkness.
She found herself hyperventilating, letting her fear take over reason. So many questions were left unanswered. Will she remember any of this when it was over? What did he mean when the said the Real ultimate lifeform? Does that mean she'll become more powerful than Sonic or Shadow? Though that wasn't a bad thought at first, she grew worried for the safety of her friends. If she was to have these 'superpowers' and had to fullfill all of Eggman's demands, she could not stop herself from destroying them.
Amy cried. She had to get out of here!
Her thoughts went interrupted when searing pain entered her body. "No! No, I can't let this happen! Noooo!" She could see or hear nothing but her own screams as the artificial serum was being injected into the wrists via the cuffs that were holding her down. It was a slow, burning feeling not unlike molten magma slowly flowing through the veins and heading towards the heart, hardening it into a hot, flaming metal. Beads of sweat ran down her face. Her stomach churned violently, now feeling the cursed chemical build up from her stomach to her esophagus. Her screams tried to drown out the pain until her voice grew tired. "Can't let it happen... can't... gotta get out..."
The burning pain was slowly receding until it was gone. Amy sighed, feeling absolutely no difference within her at all. She could still remember her home, her friends, her love... it was all there. Her heart rejoiced despite the situation. Maybe the serum failed. But then again, in this darkness, she could not see what had become of her appearance. She felt a lot more stiff than she was before and after a few seconds of trying, she realized she couldn't feel the cuffs around her wrist and ankles anymore. Why, she couldn't even move her own fingers!
A loud hiss entered the silent pod along with a gas that made her eyes droop. Before she unwillingly feel into a deep sleep, the last thing she remembered was being very, very cold.