Chapter 4- RUN

"I am not a fighter, Sally." The silhouette of a chipmunk, her features masked by a bright sun, reached out to touch Nicole's shoulder. The other hand grasped at her red hair as it caught in the wind. Enemies were swiftly approaching and time was running short. The Holo-Lynx brought a paw up to Sally's shoulder, resting it on her friend's own supportive grip. Pleading blue eyes gazed into her own, trying to find some sort of comfort. "The best I can do is raise a shield around the city. I will count on you to do the rest."

"Oh Nicole, you just got your body back, and now you have to leave again... Don't worry. Me, Sonic and the rest of the Freedom Fighters will figure something out. We can't give up now!"

Nicole raised her shield up again as several more strikes from the administrator's tentacle drove her backwards toward the nanite moat. This woman...no, this monster was not going to give up easy. There was a reason it survived this long after all. The only hope she had was the passageway just behind that creature, but how was she going to get past her? A cold, slick feeling along her legs drug her back to reality. On pure instinct, she quickly hopped into the air just before two more of those tentacles fully emerged from the pools behind, attempting to grab at her ankles!

"Shame on you, little one. I am only trying to end this as quickly as possible. Stop struggling." NICOLE continued to walk toward her slowly with eyes widened and that predatory smile fixed in place as always. Her arm twitched and shifted its shape until it was once again made whole. The reformed limb then gestured at the green pool behind her quarry. "Your only other option is leap in and let the nanites reclaim you. That way is far more painful."

Disgusting. Does this bring you some sort of perverse pleasure...? Wait a minute.

"Clearly I am at a disadvantage here, NICOLE. I know I have said some harsh things, but hear me out..." The woman before her tilted her head and stopped in her tracks, with the backs of her hands on hips. She appeared amused, but that expression had been proven to be most disingenuous. Nicole felt she had no choice but to continue, regardless of the circumstances. "Give me a ten second head-start and if you can catch me... Do with me as you will."

The Holo-Lynx hoped that she would take the bait. Recently acquired mental records painted a vivid picture of similar living experiments that attempted escape in the past, with predictable results. However, it was her only chance at this point, if only to put as much distance between her and NICOLE as possible!

The other lynx only raised that right hand of her hers and tutted, shaking her head. Fixing Nicole with those sickly green eyes and twisted grin, her voice echoed through the testing chamber with that arrogance that was really beginning to get under her skin. "Something wrong? You are becoming desperate if you think you can lose me in these halls. This is my home, little one."

"Who knows, maybe there is more of me in you just beneath the surface. It can't be all cold calculation and menace..." The black humor seeped out of her, clearly a coping mechanism she borrowed from a certain blue hedgehog. The gift that keeps on giving. "Besides, you clearly have time to kill, since both of us are not going anywhere any time soon."

Laughter resounded through the chamber soon after as the administrator clutched at her forehead. Nicole instinctively leapt forward as another series of tentacles attempted to strike her from behind. She heard them creeping up behind her while the two were conversing. "You have made your point..." The other lynx splayed out all ten of her fingers in a beckoning gesture, with every word punctuated by the glint of her fangs. "Perhaps you will make fine sport after all. Go on then; I will begin counting now."

Are you serious!? She froze in place trying to make sense of her renewed luck, but a mental map was beginning to form between here and that central server. Breaking into a broad sprint, her form whisked past the amused sociopath as she breathlessly fled towards the other side of the room. No attempt was made to stop her, much to Nicole's relief.

No time to debate this turn of events. The more space I put between her and me, the better!

"10..."

This was beginning to get interesting, although something about the other lynx's mannerisms puzzled NICOLE.

"9..."

During that handshake, that clone was supposed to have been made inert immediately upon contact. Or, at the very least, frozen in place for further experimentation and study.

"8..."

Furthermore, she felt a transaction of information between them, which was a tad concerning. However, the memories she gained from this one were...curious.

"7..."

It reminded her of those silly little stories that were confiscated from that terrorist base they scoured through just a week prior. Political satire, they called it. Could it be...?

"6..."

The idea had fascinated her, but she never bothered to actually read them. On a first glance, the plot seemed trite and full of cliches, and yet the abilities that Nicole employed could be useful indeed. This particular replicant showed no signs of being able to harness nanites in such a manner, but maybe with some time and a little bit of prodding...

Speaking of which...

"Time's up."

"5..."

How did she link her voice to the intercom? Some sort of bio-mechanical interface? ...Do not be silly, Nicole. Of course she has played this game of predator and prey before. This is all a game to her...

"4..."

The walls became a blur as she followed her internal map through identical metal chambers and hallways. The pulsating light bars running along the sides of the ARK gave off an almost nightmarish glow to the scene as she continued to run. There was no way to tell how much time this bought her, but maybe, just maybe it would be enough to get to her digital core.

"3..."

Nicole skidded around the corner, hurling herself forward as fast as those lynx legs could manage toward a nearby elevator, as the entryway helpfully slid open before her. The pain that surged through her limbs reminded her of the physical limitations of her current form, which began to worry the Holo-Lynx. Thankfully, the ARK did not move to impede her. She would have thought that her administrator access would have been revoked after this recent incident, but as she mashed the button to head up towards the server room, a more intrusive line of inquiry entered her mind.

Are the others...alive? Am I the last one remaining?

"Time's up."

The entrance to the ARK beckoned threateningly, as another shape covered in black clothing and numerous bits of tech approached the facility. The G.U.N. agents had attempted to cover up the entrance with bit of holographic trickery, as well as hiding it within the basement of a simple office building. All efforts had been circumvented by single mirror that the figure twirled in their hand before tossing it into the small backpack strapped tightly to its form. A gigantic sliding door, its core pulsing red, was the only barrier left to be bypassed in order to gain entry. Into the lion's den we go...

Pulling out a small satchel wrapped around its waist, they placed a small device on the ground gingerly. It barely made a sound as the small disc slid forward of its own volition. The mysterious intruder barely had time to cover their eyes as the gadget emitted a silent flash of light, and the door soon lost its red luster. Sparkles of chaff dust flickered through the air as the figure lodged a metallic wedge where the passage had widened ever so slightly. The rod sprung to life to further widen the portal, just enough for them to slide through. Pulling out a handheld, the bright pale blue screen lit up the masked face, as their eyes scanned through the contents within.

"Your signal is still active and in motion. Thank goodness. Stay alive until I get there, Nicole..."

That female voice, barely a whisper, trailed through the darkness, as she tore off her mask to reveal the countenance of a brown furred chipmunk with short red hair. Her eyes drooped slightly, held down by bags formed from lack of sleep and persistent worry. Bits of chaff stuck to her fur as she turned on the flashlight in her hand, following the beam further into the home of whatever remained in these ruins.

"I'm counting on you."