Transit Center: The Great Dispute

Sonic and Sally raced into the Downtown Knothole area. There were large buildings everywhere and the streets were blooming with traffic, hot dog stands and street performers. Sonic almost tripped trying to see above the tall skyscrapers.

"Whoa, this is Knothole!? Looks more like Central City to me!"

Sally confirmed as they slowed down into a walk toward D Street, "Well, The U.S. has been a big part of the modernization of Knothole. But the disputes that have been taking place have vividly been between those who see this as a privilege and those who see this as an excuse."

"How so?"

The background went gray as a flashback appeared:

The year is 2007. A large space shuttle hovered down onto the lawn of a large castle. A set of stairs popped out of the shuttle and out came President William Harrisburg the Ninth. He was young, slightly stout, and wore a navy blue suit. He was accompanied by three body guards carrying pistols concealed within their bulletproof vests. An older chipmunk who wore a light purple robe and eyeglasses; and a slightly younger Sally, who wore a red gown and a blue ribbon in her hair; waited on the large steps of the palace front corridor, pleasantly greeting them as they walked into their home.

…

"So are you aware of the agreement, Queen Acorn? We are willing to send over 10, 000 construction workers to aid you in your modernization period," the President began, "As long as you are willing to allow over 800 miles of land toward the U.S. Knotholean District we will be starting the construction of in late June. Are there any questions, so far?"

The sovereign tapped her chin, deep in thought, "No Mr. Harrisburg, there aren't any complications, so far."

A bodyguard jumped on the table and held his pistol up to Mrs. Acorn's throat, "That's PRESIDENT Harrisburg to you, lady!"

Queen Acorn gulped as younger Sally fainted and fell out of her chair. Palace guards were just about to come to the widowed queen's aide, but President Harrisburg pulled out a taser and electrocuted the first guard, sending the guards body into convulsions until he finally collapsed on the table, drooling atop the diamondias oak finish..

"I remember telling you never to do that." the President stated.

The guard slumped back in his chair, "Yes sir, Mr. President."

As young Sally got back in her chair, Queen Acorn coughed into her hand, working up the nerve to speak once more, "Well there is one thing, Mr.…President…What if there's a dispute over this sharing of land in exchange for these workers? What if some of the Knotholeans don't agree?"

Harrisburg put his hand under his chin. He never thought of that. Young Sally continued for her mother, "It's not you were worried about Mr. President. It's our own people. Months after the Great Blast, which is what my kingdom calls the Chaos Control blast that ended Dr. Robotnik's reign; a dispute about which laws should be followed erupted. The argument was whether to continue as before the Evil Reign as a Constitutional Monarchy, or to continue from the Evil Reign as an Absolute Monarchy. The Constitutional won out, which left the Clergy and Nobility without jobs. And thus the Great Dispute began…"

The president looked awkwardly confused at his bodyguards as some of the Palace Guards chuckled, "Meaning?"

Queen Acorn summarized her daughter's words, "To make a long story short, Half of Knothole will love this idea; half will want to kick you guys in the dishpan."

The president and the Queen both shook hands and the American party was on their way.

A second bodyguard whispered to the third they walked down the steps, "Hey, Judd; what's a dishpan?"

Judd butted his rifle at the bodyguard's crotch. As he yelled in pain, Judd chuckled, "That answer your question?"