AN: Thanks again for reading, guys. This time there's a little bit of melodrama for the time-traveller, but I assure you it's not just to cement his status as a Mary Sue! Do enjoy!
16:15 HOURS LEFT / THE CHIP
"I dunno where this came from, but it definitely belongs to a bot," Rotor explained, poking at the chip laid out on his palm. His workshop was a little dirtier than usual, a result of stress from the sudden increased pressure and, additionally, days of hard work building the prototypes for his new inventions. There were long metal poles and little oil puddles on the floor, a set of strange metal boots and multiple empty mugs on his many desks, and on the central platform at the back of the room stood the currently-malfunctioning de-Robotisizer.
The freedom fighters had determined the previous night that Robotnik's rumoured newer models of the Robotisizer appeared rushed, suggesting there were major component flaws in the older versions. If this was true, locating a scrapped model could give them the exact parts they needed to repair their de-Robotisizer, and that could be a turning point in the battle. Just minutes before, Sally had brought up the prospect of sending Rotor with a couple of escorts separate to the main attack force so that they could attempt to locate one of the old models. It would be like searching for a needle in a haystack, Rotor had admitted, and with Doomsday looming so near and posing such a serious threat – all of this enhanced by the potential that the time-traveller was hiding information and the enigma of the chip which Rotor was now examining again – he suggested that the de-Robotisizer had to wait.
"I tested it out on a scrapped SWAT-bot, and it seems to affect somewhere on the lower body, but I don't have any legs for this old guy any more." Rotor leaned over to the head and torso of an slightly rusted SWAT-bot attached to a large battery and patted it affectionately. Sonic scratched his head as Sally ran her hands through her hair. "So it's definitely for a bot. I'm assuming it's not Bunnie's?" she asked, but Rotor shook his head.
"The hardware is much newer than Bunnie's. Like, I haven't seen this stuff from even the best of 'buttnik's bots, even though it appears retro-applicable," he said, puzzled. "I dunno how that's possible, considering it's almost definitely from one of the freedom fighters."
Sally nodded with certainty. "It has to come from the time-traveller then. And that confirms our suspicions that he was searching the meeting hall last night, too. Oh, brother, this is just making things even more complicated..."
"Sal..." Sonic finally spoke, putting an arm on her shoulder for reassurance. "You should probably get some breakfast. That'll clear your mind up. And, you know, I could really go for some chilli dogs."
Sally nodded. She was definitely hungry; she hadn't eaten in almost a day from the stress of organising the whole movement of the freedom fighters. "Yeah. Let's eat, I'm starving." Together, they left Rotor alone in the workshop, and he turned back to the metal boots with a determined crack of his knuckles.
15:30 HOURS LEFT / THE SCIENTISTS
"3 days until the freedom fighters launch their attack? That's a very bold assumption, dear child," Robotnik sneered. Back in his main hall, the time-traveller was standing in front of him and holding a slightly dirty, slightly crumpled letter in his hand. It had indiscernible handwriting scribbled apparently quickly on it, but even Robotnik's extensive knowledge of cryptography and language analysis suggested no interpretation of that sort for the nonsense doodles that he examined as he was handed the paper.
"I told you to stop calling me child," the time-traveller said, hands behind his back. "I got the letter from the freedom fighter captured a little earlier today. According to her, it details the freedom fighter's plans for the next 72 hours. What exactly they are, I don't know." Robotnik scanned the letter once again, then looked up with half a raised eyebrow.
"You captured a freedom fighter?" he asked, then leant forward and grinned. "Whom, perchance, is this freedom fighter?"
The time-traveller's expression was blank. "I've sent the order to bring her in for you. She was very resilient, it took three SWAT-bots to pin her-"
"I hate guessing games, boy. Who is it?" Robotnik interrupted. The time-traveller paused and looked away from Robotnik, and the man's harsh snarl transformed quickly into a sinister grin. "It's your mother, isn't it? I know she's alive now. Must be quite young, early-to-mid-twenties perhaps?"
The time-traveller glared at the floor. "As a matter of fact, it isn't."
Robotnik forced a laugh. This time-traveller was far too easy to catch off guard. "Well, who, then?"
"Bunnie Rabbot."
Robotnik's face almost lightened up. "Why, very impressive!" he said, with a smirk. "The part-Robotisized country girl? It's taken a lot more than three SWAT-bots in the past to pin her successfully. In fact, I know that you have lied to me. I assigned you a crew of just two SWAT-bots for border patrol. The girl wouldn't have been stupid enough to try a perimeter breach where there were any other bots. Own up! What are you hiding, and why?"
The time-traveller looked up, flushed, and knowing he had been defeated. Robotnik delighted in seeing his expression sink dramatically, just as he loved watching in Snively. "I... I am part-Robotisized as well, Robotnik. My foot," the boy admitted. Before Robotnik could open his mouth to angrily object, even though he'd already known this fact, the time-traveller continued: "In my future, there were still misguided attempts at long life. The robotization recipes that Charles Hedgehog had created prior to your coup still existed, and other scientists began augmenting them under Royal commission.
"When Sally was dethroned, the scientists hurriedly attempted to save what work they had done, and so rushed in the willing to be Robotisized for the supposed chance of surviving the coming chaos. Even the unwilling were sometimes rounded up and forced into the Robotisizer by greedy scientists, wishing to profit off of robotic control... not unlike you. I was kidnapped in my teens by one such rogue scientist, working in a secret facility... the group that burst in and rescued me just after the process had started was supposedly the group my father joined."
Robotnik mimed a yawn before his expression became one of anger again. "How melodramatic. The only thing more severe than your tragic life story will be the fate that befalls you for keeping this secret from me. If you truly wanted this war to go in my favour, you would allow me to analyse the technology in your foot, which could be used to build a new Robotisizer!" he barked. "My trust in you is fading quickly, boy. You had better find a way of amending this, or I might find a certain Robotisizer room allocated specifically to you."
The time-traveller shook his head. "You're wrong. The reason why I couldn't give you the tech is simply because I don't have it. Like I explained, the procedure was experimental and incomplete, so it had bugs. The major one that I consistently encounter is that my foot breaks easily. The chip that contains the information you need falls out regularly... Normally I notice, but this time I didn't and I've lost it. Anyway, I've already given you the plans for the best Robotisizer I was aware of in my time."
Robotnik was silent for a while. The boy was right, but his reputation had certainly been damaged in Robotnik's eyes. Another secret like that, and he wouldn't hesistate for a second to throw the child into a Robotisizer machine. He leant back in his chair and snarled. "Bring in the prisoner!" he ordered loudly, and the doors behind the time-traveller opened. The boy stepped aside as Bunnie, held at the arms by two SWAT-bots and supervised by two more behind them, was taken in, squirming and kicking.
"Excellent," Robotnik muttered, his mood improving greatly as he watched Bunnie's helpless, adorable writhing. "Now, old girl, tell me – this letter tells the details of the next three days, or so I am told. Could you perhaps assist us in confirming this?"
Bunnie was lifted into the air by the SWAT-bots after her attempts at knocking out the feet of her captors, and she used the opportunity to kick one heavily in the chest. It staggered backwards, but was supported by the robot behind it. "Even if ah knew, y'all wouldn't get nothin' from me!" she screamed, kicking the SWAT-bot again with a violent cry.
The time-traveller watched in silence. Silently, he prayed that Bunnie would keep to resisting instead of accusing him. Robotnik grinned and his eyes glowed. "Oh, dear girl, I'll be getting everything from you. Just you wait," he hissed, then looked at the SWAT-bots. "Take her away, and prepare a Robotization chamber for later. Make sure I'm alerted before the fun begins."
The SWAT-bots turned and started to walk off, Bunnie kicking and wailing as they took her away. Before the room's large door shut, the time-traveller saw her turn back in desperation to look at him. "Do you think torture is really the best way to do this?" he asked, after a short pause.
Robotnik's seat turned, and he frowned at the time-traveller. "Why shouldn't it be?"
"She's part robot. Tough. Physical punishment isn't enough. She only confessed to me because she thought I was with her."
Robotnik stroked his chins. "Then what would you suggest?"
The time-traveller shrugged. "No idea."