Chapter 9: One Death Prevented, Another Destined.

2059 Waste Disposal Tube.

Sonic landed with a loud thud as he breathed a sigh of relief. Sonya had gotten him out of a very tight situation. Pun not intended.

Sonic: Whew! Thanks for getting me out of there! Place smelled like Vector in July…

Sonya: You scared me there…

Sonic: Sorry.

Sonic took literally ONE step forward into a circular room, and it was filled with lasers, turrets and even some shock traps!

Sonic: Uhh, Sonya, they got enough security in this room to keep out a army of speedy Mobians, any ideas?!

Sonya: I'm trying something here.

Quantum Causality kicks in, and the turrets, shock traps and all but one of the laser fields vanishes. Damn!

Sonya: Did it work?

Sonic: Uh… Yeah. Mostly. I can handle the rest, thanks Sonya!

Sonic zips into the room, this time not wasting a moment as he activated all the terminals at the same time before he dashes into the next room, smirking.

Sonic: Hehe. Moving onto the next item on our royal schedule.

Sonic says while rolling the r's.

Sonya: But of course, Jeeves, the next thing on our schedule is for you to go to the Archives room and acquire the information I need.

Sonic and Sonya both laugh hysterically because of the fact they played into the joke of being posh goofballs.

Sonya: Ahh… Yeah. I needed that.

Sonic: Same here.

Sonya: Alright. Focus. Archives room. If you get stuck, I can make some adjustments on this end to help you.

Sonic: Roger that!

Sonic dashed into the next room and turned the security bot at the terminal into scrap metal… But his way forward beyond that point was blocked by a security barrier.

Sonic: … Yeah, I'm stuck again, there's a security field blocking my way.

Sonya: Hmm… It looks like the security matrix is in the adjacent room on your right. I'm gonna make a vent so you can get to it.

Sonic: Please and thank you!

Sonic waited, surprisingly patiently, as Quantum Causality kicked in and made a vent appear. He breaks through it and zips into the adjacent room, landing on the maintenance walkway.

Sonic: Hey, Sonya? Question.

Sonya: Go ahead.

Sonic: Who gave you your education?

Sonya: Oh, Tails did.

Sonic: Wait, really?

Sonya: Yeah. He found out that I had been gifted with an overdeveloped brain, like he was, and decided to capitalize off it by giving me an education.

Sonic: Nice! So you're a genius?

Sonya: Well… I don't like to brag, but intellectually, yes. In terms of street smarts? I'm getting there.

Sonic: Do you know what the difference between the two is?

Sonya: Intellectual strength isn't the same as having common sense. Simple as.

Sonic: You got it in one.

Sonya: Heh… Why the sudden interest?

Sonic: Just figured I'd ask is all. Did he teach you how to work the CLP?

Sonya: Actually, he told me the idea for it, but the one who actually put it into practice was Valkyr.

Sonic: So you DO know Valkyr!

Sonya: Are you kidding me? Who DOESN'T know that 12 foot cuddle monster?

Sonic: Good point. So, wait. How did she show that to you?

Sonya: Using the CLP requires a balance of engineering prowess and genetic know-how. In spite of Valkyr seeming to be a child mentally, she has moments where she has intellectual genius. Her work with the CLP is proof of that.

Sonic: I mean, I've seen her fix a Death Egg Robot and use it as a battering ram, so that isn't a shocker.

Sonya: … She did WHAT with WHAT?

Sonic: Long story.

Sonya: Sounds like it. I'll have to ask her about it when the timeline resets.

Sonic: Oh yeah uh… Does your future suck? In the original timeline?

Sonya: Not really. It has its moments, but it's not bad.

Sonic: Huh. Well, either way, here's hoping we fix everything.

Sonya: I thought you didn't believe me about the timeline being different?

Sonic: After the day I've had, I'll believe ANYTHING at this point, Sonya. In any case…

Sonic Spindashed into the Security Matrix, putting it firmly in the past tense before he leaps up and rolls through the vent he used to reach it. Once back, he dashed into a room with four pillars that were generating a LOT of energy. Then the loudspeakers turned on, and that same female voice spoke…

???: Better go back, little hedgehog. Before you get crushed. Bet you can't handle this~.

Sonic: *Sigh* Her again…? PLEASE let me be wrong about who that is…

Before Sonic could even ponder who that voice belonged to, he was ambushed by cyborgs with multiple canisters on their backs, the tag BM-13. These were Brood Mother units! Sonic zips to a hiding spot, trying to keep himself hidden.

Sonic: Sonya, there's too much for me to handle, if I'm not careful, I will make these things drop some babies!

Sonya: Wait, are you talking about the BM units?

Sonic: YES.

Sonya: Give me a few minutes!

Sonic: Seconds would be better!

Sonic barely dodges a Brood Mother swiping at him, and then he proceeded to dodge and dash around the room, trying to avoid them as much as possible.

Sonya: The entry to the Archives room is on the opposite side of the entry door to that room. I'm making a vent so you can reach it, break through!

Sonic: Just tell me where and when, I'll try to be alive when you're finished!

Sonic gets grabbed but he breaks free and kicks the BM that held him in the face, sending them into the others!

Sonya: Did it work?

Sonic: I got nothing on my end! *Grunt* Except for things trying to kill me!

He says as he jumps over one, but gets punched by another, hitting the wall. He sprung back and kicked two right in the face, surfing on them for a moment before one tried to tackle him!

Sonic: SONYA FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!

Sonya: I'm busy dealing with tentacles!!

Sonic: How about you deal me a way out of here?!

Sonic gets grabbed again, and he breaks free, Spindashing into three of them.

Sonya: How about now?!

Sonic: Nothing– wait! Hold on!

Quantum Causality kicked in, finally making a vent appear, and Sonic wasted no time on breaking it open. He rolled through it and then landed in front of the door to the Archives. He sighs in relief, then takes a step inside. The place was EMPTY. Save for the main terminal in the center.

Sonic: Okay, I'm here. How do I access it?

Sonya: Enter my password. Lyla. L Y L A.

Sonic types it in, but the terminal beeps and flashes red.

Terminal: Access denied.

Sonic: Great… Got any other ideas?

Sonya: Hmmm…

Sonic: … I wish I could just say "open sesame" or "grant me access" or–

Terminal: Request acknowledged. Access granted.

The terminal fully unlocks and enables Sonic to look through the information present.

Sonic: … That was weird… Okay! Let's go over the start up procedures.

Sonya: Slow down, Sonic! It's not that simple.

Sonic: Did you fire up the Quark Enhancers? Activate the Tachyon Relays?

Sonya: Yes, I did all that! Now will you–

Sonic: Uncouple the Heisenberg Compensators?

Sonya: Yes I– SHOCK, no I didn't!

Sonic: Really? Huh.

Sonya: Wait, does it only say "uncouple"? Does it not say to recouple them after?

Sonic: Uhh… No?

Sonya: … That's weird…

Sonic: Why?

Sonya: I could have sworn it would have said to uncouple and recouple, but if it says to only uncouple, then I won't argue with the instructions manual.

Sonic: Sometimes instructions aren't always your best friend.

Sonya: Maybe…

Sonic: Either way, I think that–

Sonic pauses as a brand new file popped up on screen. He went wide eyed in horror. It was Amy Rose's file, it had information about what day she was born, where she was from, and, to Sonic's horror, her death.

Sonic: Oh no…!

Sonya: What? What's wrong?

Sonic: It's Amy. She dies! TONIGHT! Right there at Robotnik Enterprises!

Sonya: H-how do– Oh for shock's sake, hedgehog! What part of don't poke around in the Archives was unclear?!

Sonic: It wasn't my fault, okay? It just popped up! But now that I've found out, it's–

Sonya: It's what? MY job to save her? I got enough to deal with!

Sonic: You CAN'T mean that! You can't just ignore that she's in danger!

Sonya: I'm trying to focus on what's important!

Sonic: What's important? WHAT'S IMPORTANT?! What's important is NOT standing by and allowing someone to suffer or die because you do nothing! If you don't get that, then you don't get one of the first things about being a hero!

Sonya: You're the one who still doesn't get it, hedgehog! The future depends on-

Sonic slams his fists into the archives terminal keyboard in anger.

Sonic: MY FUTURE IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT HER!!!!

Silence. Sonic was doing his best to keep his cool, ignoring the literal demon trying to claw its way out and cause trouble…

Sonya: (Whispering) … I was hoping you would say that…

Sonic perks up.

Sonic: What?

Sonya: I said this is gonna be a huge mistake.

Sonic: … I owe you, Sonya. Big time.

Sonya: Shocking right you do! But… Maybe this will help even the score for everything the universe owes you.

Sonic: Thank you. I mean that.

Sonic sighs in frustration and slams his head against the terminal. HARD.

Sonic: I must have been crazy to think about staying here! If people I love are in danger, I NEED to be there to help them.

Sonic's ear twitches. Someone else was in the room…

Sonic: … Now what?

???: Did I hear you talking about someone you love? I think that's my cue, hedgehog.

Sonic: … Shiiiit…