Chapter 6: Premonitions

Author's Note: Merged this chapter and Memos of the Dictator into one chapter...

July 8th, AD 2169, 10:00 AM.

Location: Project Shadow Research Facility Bravo, Robotnik Enterprises, Somewhere in North America.

It was almost time for the ceremony, and Sonic was running late. It was supposed to start at exactly 1000 hours, but all the recruits who were about to receive their promotions were supposed to be there fifteen minutes early. Unfortunately, Sonic had been given permission ahead of time to have this morning to relax, and had failed to pay attention to the time.

He was in his private quarters reading a book, when his alarm went off. He swore when he checked his watch and saw that it was five till 1000 hours, and then began to frantically put on his dress uniform. This wouldn't have been much of a problem had he not tripped on the book he had been reading.

"Damn that book to hell!" Sonic swore as he hit the ground with a crash, just moments after leaping from his chair in surprise. He pushed himself off of the floor and then scrambled into his uniform. He paused for a moment as he laced up his trademark running shoes, and then bolted out the door as fast as he could run.

Sonic rushed down the stairs of Barracks 24, jumped the fence, and sped down the running track. He past the sparring grounds, where the recruits were waiting to be let into the Assembly Hall, paused for a moment to wave at Tails, and then he dashed up the steps to the side entrance. He bolted through the door, and dashed towards the door that led to the stage, where he was certain that they were to be meeting at. He would've reached the door at the end of the, had someone not stepped out of one of the side rooms at that precise moment, and had started walking toward the exit.

The blue hedgehog tried frantically to slow down, but it was too late; his momentum and the slightly slippery linoleum carried him onward, and he skidded down the hallway, right into the path of the unfortunate victim. The last thing Sonic saw before the collision was a slim but blurred figure with thick red hair, and then, they collided. Sonic gave a startled grunt as he rammed head first into the side of unprepared recipient of the supersonic impact. With a startlingly feminine cry, they both tumbled the floor with a loud thump, and slid farther down the hallway before coming to a stop. His vision swam, and he blacked out for a brief moment.

When his vision cleared, he found himself staring directly into a pair of brilliant blue eyes. Those eyes, He thought, where have I seen them before?

He had the distinct impression that he should know who they belonged too. Sonic was abruptly jerked out of his thoughts by a soft voice.

"Are you going to let me up, or are you just going to just sit there and make this even more awkward for the both of us?"

With a startled glance, he realized that he was on top of the person he had collided with. She was a Mobian squirrel who looked to be about his age, and he had never seen anyone like her.

The girl's short red hair was tied back in a ponytail and seemed to enhance her light brownish-yellow fur. She had deep blue eyes that bespoke of intelligence, and had a hint of both kindness and determination in them, as well as a deep sadness. Her uniform was slightly rumpled, due to their collision, but the fact that it appeared as if she had ironed it before putting it on hinted at the fact that she cared about appearances.

"Sorry," Sonic replied, with an embarrassed blush. "I was in a hurry to get to the promotion ceremony, and you just walked out. Besides, I am still getting used to the speeds at which I can run…"

"It's okay," the squirrel interrupted, "I should've been paying more attention."

He stood up, and then casually offered his hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. Their eyes made contact, for a brief moment, and in the fleeting contact between the sapphire and emerald eyes, something seemed to pass between them. Her eyes widened briefly, as if in recognition, but then the moment passed, and Sonic was left with the distinct impression he knew her.

"What is your name?" He asked, letting go of her hand.

She turned away from him and took a few steps toward the door, and then buried her head in her hands in apparent despair. After a few moments, she shook her head, but she still had it lowered.

"Everyone calls me Sally," She finally responded, still with her back to him. She sounded as if she was almost on the verge of tears.

On an impulse, Sonic walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "Is something wrong, Sally?"

Sonic was sure that she was about to answer when he heard the voice of someone yelling from the room at which Sally had just exited.

"If you're done getting acquainted with each other, I think it is about time you get in here Sonic!" Captain William, who was current senior officer at Facility Bravo, boomed from inside the room. "You are the guest of honor, and we cannot start the ceremony without you."

Sally turned around sharply, and looked penetratingly at Sonic. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"I can't believe I didn't recognize him", She murmured so softly that Sonic could've imagined it. " He has changed so much, almost as if-"

At that moment, the captain cut her off. "Miss… Acorn, it seems as if I didn't need to send you to go wake him up, after all. You return as well."

In a daze, Sonic walked into the room where the recruits who were receiving their promotion were waiting.

Did I really hear Sally say what I thought she said? Sonic thought. How could she possibly know me by sight…? Who is she, and why do I keep getting the distinct felling that I should know her?

It was between five and ten minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start, when Sonic finally arrived at the Assembly Hall.

Knuckles watched as Sally exited the room to find Sonic. A few moments after the door had closed, he thought he heard what sounded like a heavy thump from out. He and a few others got up and took a step toward the door, but the captain silently waved them down.

Captain William walked to the door, briefly glanced out the door's window, and then walked back to his seat with a silent grin on his face.

"What is going on, Captain?" Knuckles asked.

"Shhh…Everyone stay quiet," The captain whispered to the thirty or so Mobians in the room. The captain occasionally had a mischievous streak, and this was apparently one of the times that it was manifesting. "I think Sonic just arrived, to Sally's surprise. Let us hear what they say to each other before we interfere. I think this may be interesting."

At least he got here on time, Knuckles thought sarcastically. Of course someone who can run faster than the wind is going to be late.

They listened, and Knuckles was barely able to pick up the voices from outside. After about a minute, with little conversation, the Captain called them into the room. Sally took an empty seat from across the room, and sat down, her eyes determinedly fixed on the wall in front of her. Sonic sat down in the only available seat, which was of course, to Knuckles' chagrin, right next to him. No one wanted to speak, as if everyone in the room was in a trance.

The Minutes ticked by in silence, as the group of recruits waited for whatever signal it was that determined the time they needed to be on stage. Every now and then, Sonic and Sally's eyes would meet, and then she would rapidly turn her head, as if he had somehow insulted her, and Sonic's face would then temporarily twist into an expression of puzzlement, before resuming its current mask-like quality.

Knuckles was getting bored, but he chose to just sit there, not saying or doing anything. That was when it happened. His eyes widened and became unfocused, and a sense of dread rushed over him. He knew what it was, and the fact startled him even more than he realized. Without even realizing it, he began to speak.

"Not good… bad feeling about this… something terrible about to happen… death… pain… terror…!" the echidna mumbled. His voice started to rise, and soon, he was shouting, repeating the same sentence over and over again. Faintly, he heard the voices of Sally, Sonic, and some of the other Mobians telling him to snap out of it, but he couldn't respond. His mind was wrapped up in the horrifying vision that he couldn't clear from his was a brilliant flash of light, and some pain, and he blacked out for a moment.

The next think Knuckles knew, he was lying face down on the floor, with Sonic, Sally, and Captain William standing over them. Concern was etched into their faces.

"What happened Knuckles? Are you feeling well?" Sonic asked, as he held out his hand to help him to his feet.

"Dammit, Sonic! I am fine." He shook off Sonic's helping hand, and stood up by himself. His legs were a little wobbly, but he couldn't let the others see him as being weak, and besides, he was one of the toughest Mobians created by Professor Jason, he wouldn't let some minor trembling keep him away from his promotion ceremony.

"Well, then," The Captain said, "Why don't we get in line? We need to be out there in a couple of minutes, and we're keeping the audience waiting."

"Uh... Captain, may I speak with you a moment, privately?" Knuckles asked, as the other Mobians walked outside towards the back entrance to the stage.

"This isn't a good time Knuckles, could you wait until after the ceremony?" The Captain asked impatiently, as he walked to the door.

"No, it can't wait; It's important."

"Well then, speak up cadet, as we don't have all day. What's on your mind?"

"I think we should reschedule the ceremony, and request all officers and guards to be on alert. I have a gut feeling that something terrible will occur within a matter of hours."

"Are you sure that you are feeling well cadet? We cannot reschedule the ceremony again, especially when we are just about to start. I'm sure that feeling of dread you have is just your nerves." He turned toward the door.

"I'm fine, sir. If you can't reschedule the ceremony, can you at least see to it that all personnel on base are alert and ready for a potential emergency?" Knuckles asked, almost desperately.

The captain turned to face Knuckles, and stared solemnly at him. After a moments pause, he spoke again. "Very well, cadet, I see that you are indeed serious in this. Although it is probably nothing, I will see to it that all personnel on base are alert and ready for any potential emergency. It never hurts to be cautious, I suppose; in fact, I'll even double the guard here in the Gathering Hall. Just pray that this 'disaster' you suddenly had premonitions about doesn't happen. Now, get in line. We have delayed everyone long enough."

The captain walked out the door.

Thank you, sir, Knuckles thought as he lumbered to the back of the single file line. That is all I was asking for. But I cannot shake the feeling that this ceremony will cost us dearly.

Sent on July 6th, 2169, at approximately: 5:00 PM Standard Orbital Time. Destination: Fortress Omega; G.U.N. General Headquarters.

To: Lord Fidel, Supreme World Overlord.

From: Commander Jason O'tara, Comander of space colony ARK.

Clearance code: Alpha-5-17B-****

Priority: High

Lord Fidel,

I was ordered to send you a direct message upon carrying out these orders to the letter. Further reports will be sent if you so require them.

Order Omega-21 has been completed. All orbital strike forces are aboard the ARK and ready for departure. All ground forces are preparing for their transportation to their respective staging area. All available Space-to-Ground Missiles have been programmed and aimed towards their respective military and government targets. Our, 'little surprise' is functioning should it need to be used, and all of the ARK's defenses have been put onto yellow alert, ready to be activated at the push of a single button.

Our spies are sending out as much information as possible, and all enemy communications are being constantly monitored, redirected, and fed false information; they have no idea what is about to happen, and we should have complete surprise on our side.

As ordered, we are standing by, awaiting your personal command to begin Phase Two of Operation Sabertooth.

-Commander O'lark

Sent on July 8th, 2169, at approximately: 10:05 PM Standard Orbital Time. Destination: Fortress Omega; G.U.N. General Headquarters.

To: Lord Fidel, Supreme World Overlord.

From: Commander Jason O'tara, Commander of space colony ARK.

Clearance code: Alpha-5-17B-****

Priority: High

Lord Fidel,

Orders regarding the diverting of Recon Team Charlie to Location U-125 has been received and carried out. They will be reporting directly to General Forte, and awaiting further orders, as instructed.

They, and the rest, are awaiting your command to initiate Phase Two of Operation: Sabertooth, and they are eager to carry it out.

It is time we bring the dissidents and rebels under the arm of the United Nations!

-Commander O'tara