CHAPTER 6: THE RESCUE
Sally awoke at the sound of an opening door.
And indeed, it was Robotnik with that mocking smile on his face.
"Good morning Princess, had a good night?" Robotnik asked casually walking around, throwing a look at Sonic's cell
The said hedgehog was motionless, probably still asleep, his body trying to recover from the strange illness fighting off the unknown.
Robotnik smiled at the thought of finally having his nemesis on a silver platter, in a literal way.
While he watched the unconscious hero, the freedom fighters awoke and got up.
"So…" Robotnik began "have you decided yet?" he finished as silence filled the room.
Not a single word was uttered from the freedom fighters who watched Robotnik with hatred in their eyes.
"I take it as a 'no'" Robotnik said, a little irritation in his voice "too bad for him" he finished turning back the way he came, obviously heading for Sonic's cell.
As soon as he disappeared, Sally lost it
"SONIC! SONIC! WAKE UP ALREADY!" Sally screamed, hoping to wake his friend before the tyrant approached him.
"Wha?!" Sonic awoke just in time to hear the end of the sentence
"Try to move Sonic! Do something" Sally said, not knowing what to say
"I can't Sal. These ropes are too tight" Sonic weakly said back.
His temperature didn't go down during the night but rather increased.
His head was throbbing with a very painful headache making him feel dizzy and confused.
He also felt very sticky due to all the sweat that dripped down during the night.
Finally his nightmare opened the door.
Sonic stood still, not even trying to fight back.
"Hello hedgehog" Robotnik said, taking the syringe from his pocket "not feeling so well?" he asked again, not getting an answer.
Sonic simply stared at said tyrant, for the first time a little fear appearing on his features.
"Enjoy it hedgehog because things are going to get worse" Robotnik stated while sitting at the edge of Sonic's bed.
He was little taken aback when, grasping Sonic's arm he was not met with resistance.
The blue hedgehog was trying to focus his gaze towards the ceiling, trying to calm his breath.
His strange behaviour made the doctor stop in his tracks and take the thermometer on the table beside Sonic's bed to track his temperature.
Sally and the others were really scared about the situation for Sonic had never been so injured in all their adventures.
Sure he had been wounded a couple of times but never in his life had he been SO hurt.
Sally considered telling Robotnik the location of Knothole for a second but stopped his thoughts immediately.
If I tell him the location, he won't hesitate in killing Sonic.
Still, if we don't do anything he could…
Sally's thoughts were stopped at the doctor's triumphant laugh
"It seems I won't need another injection after this one" Robotnik said, turning to the freedom fighters.
"It seems his temperature increased a little" he said again, trying and succeeding in making his enemies nervous "he's at 112 now" he finished making a gasp escape Sally
"LET HIM GO! WE'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING! JUST LET HIM GO!" Sally was crying now, her only goal was to get her friend safe.
No Knothole
No freedom
She just wanted Sonic up and well
"Not going to happen" was the icy reply of Robotnik
"You have one last chance Princess" Robotnik said, raising the syringe "where is Knothole?" he asked again
Sally looked at Sonic, then at her friends, then back to Sonic.
What do I do?
What do I do?
Sally was crying violently now, raising her stare she could swear she saw Sonic weakly attempting to shake his head.
No use. I choose Sonic over Knothole
"Knothole is-
A loud explosion was heard making everyone fall to the ground in shock
"Snively! What's happening?" Robotnik asked as his nephew's voice could be heard from afar
"I don't know sir. Something crashed in the base sir" he tried to explain while ordering the Swatbots to move and find the cause of that noise.
"The answer princess" Robotnik turned back
I have to get the location before something happens
Sally was trying to find an escape route
It could be Dulcy, and for a second I heard Harry's voice.
"Very well" Robotnik said again, turning back to Sonic who tried to retract his arm
He injected the liquid in Sonic's bloodstream making sure to get the freedom fighters' attention back on him, rather than the situation
Sonic only moaned in pain, unable to create a proper scream, once again feeling the hot liquid burning in his veins.
Just a second after that, he began trembling and soon after, he fell unconscious
"SONIC!" Sally tried to scream but the explosions were getting closer.
Finally Dulcy appeared, breaking another wall,
The dragon saw Sally crying and Sonic's still frame making her furious
"What have you done, you sicko?" Dulcy said, rage evident on her face
"YOU!" Robotnik pointed
"Me!" Dulcy replied, her icy breath freezing Robotnik temporarily while Harry appeared as well taking out the two guards at the front door and opening the freedom fighters' cell.
"My princess. Are you alright?" Harry asked, very worried seeing Sally on the verse of despair.
"I-I'm fine Harry. Sonic isn't. P-Please save him. D-Do something" she tried to speak while the other hurried to Sonic and undid the straps checking his state
"His temperature is at impossible levels" Harry said while Bunnie approached
"Give him that Sugah. It should solve the problem" she said.
The other didn't waste time.
He took the syringe filled with yellow liquid and injected the contents in Sonic's bloodstream.
While Dulcy, Antoine and Tails fought the incoming guards, Sally, Bunnie and Harry waited with anxiety for a sign that Sonic was alright.
After some seconds, Sonic's eyes flickered and opened slowly.
Sally hurried by his side, trying to talk to him
"Sonic. Sonic. It's me Sally. Are you with us?" Sally tried to get him so speak, to say something.
All she got was a slow nod but that was enough to make her smile
"Dulcy! Get us out of here!" Sally said as said dragon flew off with the entire group on her back.
A very usual scream of anger was heard seconds after.
Robotnik was looking at the spot where to freedom fighters flew off in anger
"Sir! Sir!" Snively said
"What now?" the other replied
"They put explosives all around the base! It's going to blow" Snively said
"Get us out of here Snively" he said back, running towards his ship
"Yes sir!" Snively replied, also hurrying to said vehicle.
After a few minutes, the entire base exploded leaving no trace of what happened.
Meanwhile the freedom fighters hurried to Knothole.
Every citizen of the city went out, knowing their heroes had returned
Sally jumped off along with Bunnie who held Sonic in her hands
"Hurry! Call Doctor Quack immediately" Bunnie screamed as all the citizens called him.
As soon as he arrived, he gasped
"Oh my god. What happened?" The doctor said, seeing Sonic's state
"Robotnik injected him a poison. We gave him the antidote but he's not recovering" Sally said, panic in her voice as the doctor nodded and ran to his clinic with Bunnie and Sonic behind him.
"Put him there!" Quack said as Bunnie positioned him on the bed and covered him with the blanket.
"Please wait outside" the doctor said again.
Bunnie nodded, heading away to comfort Sally, who was crying on the ground without restraint.
In the late evening
The door finally opened.
All freedom fighters standing up and Quack's approaching
All the citizens waited outside, close enough to hear.
"Sonic's going to be just fine" the doctor said with a smile that sent the whole village crying in joy at the statement.
As soon as Quack said that, Sonic appeared by the door.
Tired, weak but finally free from that poison.
"Hey guys…missed me?" he said, cocky self back in place making Tails and Sally truckle him in a death-hug
"Easy guys…I'm still a little dazed" Sonic replied, the two mentioned releasing him
Even if Sonic's life had been at stake the freedom fighters were now having a party to celebrate Sonic's recovery.
Robotnik had been defeated again and Knothole was still safe.
"Sonic…" Sally approached "I'm sorry" she said
"What for?" Sonic asked, surprised at her behaviour
"I nearly told him the location" Sally admitted, her head low in shame
"It's cool, Sal. We're safe and Robuttnik lost again" he said, trying to cheer her up
"You're right" Sally said, her face brightening
"So…" Sonic began mockingly "you love me then?" Sonic teased as the other blushed furiously
"Y-You little-" she tried to punch him but the other was way too fast
"I'm waiiiiting" Sonic said leaning against a tree as Sally fumed
"I'm gonna catch you Sonic the hedgehog" she screamed around trying to get him.
"Sonic can really move" Rotor said smiling
"Sonic has an attitude!" Antoine said in his French-like way
"He's the fastest thing alive!" Tails said flying above their heads
He's the fastest thing aliiiive!
The end
Hello again guys. I hope you liked this story I came up with.
Don't forget to comment if you feel like it ok? :)
Until next time, possibly soon enough