Chapter 20: Sub-Sonic:
Dr. Robotnik's POV:
We are at my oil drilling platforms. "Excellent, Snively," I said, "it appears that the probes have found another oil lake."
"It appears that way, Sir," says Snively.
"What are the holding tank oil levels," I asked.
"36 percent capacity, Sir. By tonight we should reach 50 percent," says Snively.
"Oh, I assure you Snively, you will do better than 50 percent; much better," I said.
"But, Sir, we've been running at maximum power for 10 days..." says Snively.
"We will go on 10 days if necessary. Understood," I asked.
"Understood, Sir," says Snively.
"There is a world of oil down there, Snively, and I shall have it all," I said.
Sally's POV:
"I just don't understand it, Rotor," I said, "I calculated the exact proportions of water to sun ratio and energized the soil, but these trees don't respond."
"Yeah. They look pretty sick all right. In fact, a lot of the trees around here aren't looking so hot," says Rotor.
"Antoine, how are the other trees doing," I asked.
"Oh, naht so too very good my Preencess," says Antoine.
"How did this happen," asks Tails.
"Well, I think Robotnik's pollution is spreading farther and farther from the city," I said.
"Well, I ahm sinkeeng zat maybe zey die frahm ziss hahrreeble frahterneezair. Phew!"
"Not fraternizer, Antoine. Fertilizer," says Tails.
Then there's thunder.
"Whaht ees ziss," asks Antoine.
"Looks like a storm is coming. Maybe some rain will bring these trees back to life," I said.
Sonic's POV:
I was working on a new song while fishing on the bridge.
Sonic: Just put the pedal to the metal and baby I guarantee...
You'll be juicin' to the tenth degree
Crank it supersonic
It doesn't take any fuel
Cuz the rocket's in my pocket and I'm wa-a-a-a-a-a-ay past cool!
"Thank you, thank you!" I then bowed to my imaginary audience. Then there was a fish that was giving me trouble and I ended up losing it. "Rather have a chili dog anyway."
. . .
"And I'll tell ya, that fish stick was so big, he pulled me right off the bridge and I water-skied behind him for 10 miles. Then he stole my pole," I said.
"Bummer. I was ready for some fish sticks," says Rotor.
"I bet he was big as a tree, huh Sonic? Bet it was even big as a house, huh," asks Tails.
"You got it, Kid," I said.
"Pardonnez-moi, Sahneec, but ahre you sinkeeng we were bahrn tahmorrow, hmm," asks Antoine.
"It's all true, Ant. A hedgehog never lies," I said. I then shook the water out of my ear and it landed on a flower and then the flower started to bloom. "Whoa! What's up with the old flower?"
"Ah! Fantastique," says Antoine.
"Oh my gosh! Sonic, what did you do," asks Sally.
"I dunno. I just knocked water out of my ear. Like this," I then demonstrated.
"Wow! Cool, Sonic," says Tails.
"I do naht believeeng my ears..." says Antoine.
"Sonic, where did this water come from," asks Sally.
"The Great River, near our bridge," I said.
"Then we have to get more of it," says Sally.
. . .
We were traveling the river on Rotor's boat. "Very cool boat," I said.
"Gosh, no big deal," says Rotor.
"Come on, man; you're totally hot with the ol' hammer," I said.
"Yeah, but who cares about some nerdy handyman. I'd rather be a superhero like you. Now that's cool," says Rotor.
"Can't argue that. When you're right, you're right. But it's still a cool boat," I said.
"Rahtor! look out fahr ze beeg lahg," says Antoine.
"Just chill and enjoy the scenery, Ant," I said.
"Oui. Oui," says Antoine, "I ahm cheelleeng."
"Look guys. Those trees are dying, just like the ones in Knothole. Somehow, we have to figure out a way to revive them before the whole forest dies," says Sally.
"Maybe that weird, green water will do it," I said.
"Rahtor, why ahre we going too fahst," asks Antoine.
"Yeah, the current is picking up speed," says Rotor.
"Can't you slow down, Rotor," asks Sally.
"I can try," says Rotor.
"In retrospect, probably shouldn't have gone on a boat ride when I'm afraid of water," I said.
"Now you know how eet feels to be me," says Antoine.
We then all screamed as we entered a whirlpool.
. . .
"My gosh! Where are we," asks Sally.
"That's what I'd like to know," says Rotor.
"Looks like some kind of underground lake," I said as we looked around, "definitely a dump!"
"Which means Robotnik can't be far," says Sally, "Nicole, check the map file for 'subterranean'."
"Checking Sally...No subterranean file exists," says Nicole.
"Looks like we're on our own, guys," says Sally.
"In more ways than one. We lost the motor," says Rotor.
"Lahst ze m-m-mahtor? zen how will we getteeng out of ziss terreeble plahce," asks Antoine.
"Turn up ahead, Antoine," says Sally.
"Pahlace guards ahre naht meant fahr ze roweeng of ze boot, Preencess," says Antoine.
"Eww! Check this junkberg," I said as I found machine part lying in the water. We then tried to pull it towards us. "Yo, Ant! Angle to the right! Ant!" We couldn't get the machine and the boat got cracked. "Nice move, Ant. Ant?" We then all realized Antoine was missing.
"I just don't get it. One minute he's here, and then he's gone," says Rotor.
"We'll find him, Rote," I said.
"I sure hope so," says Sally.
Then we're heading for a waterfall. "Hang on! I'll give us a little juice," I said. I managed to push us away from the waterfall.
"That was close. Great job, Sonic," says Rotor.
"Sonic, you are a very, very brave hedgehog," says Sally. She then kisses me on the cheek. "Thank you."
"Any time, Sal," I said.
. . .
Now we're in a plant filled cavern, looking for Antoine.
"Hey, guys. You get the feeling we're being watched," asks Rotor.
"By whom? The plants," I asked.
"I dunno. I just feel something watchin' us," says Rotor.
"You're just paranoid, Rotor. Oh! Look at this beautiful flower," says Sally.
The flower then snaps at us. "Man! What is that flower? A snapdragon," I asked.
"Sonic! Behind you," says Sally.
More of these things were coming at us.
"All right; that's it! Now you're making me mad," I said. I then drilled at the snapdragons, tying them all up. "That's what you get for being rude!"
"Sonic! Sally's gone," says Rotor.
"Gone," I asked.
"She was right here next to me, and then she disappeared," says Rotor.
I then started calling for her.
. . .
We were then looking for Sally. "Man, this looks like some kind of palace," I said.
"Yeah, but what's with this smell? Just like Robotropolis," says Rotor.
"Doesn't anybody take out the trash around here? Eww," I said.
"Wow. Look at this," says Rotor.
We then heard something. "Wait here, Rote. I'll scope it out," I said. I Then headed off to figure out what made that noise.
. . .
I looked and saw an anthropomorphic beast resembling that of a giant and bulky humanoid octopus. He has purple skin, thick orange lips, black fangs protruding from his mouth, and black claws on his feet. His eyes on the other hand are red with pale yellow sclera. The Kraken also possesses a somewhat hunched posture, and his hands have long and saggy fingers, similar to tentacles. I then ran back to Rotor, but I got captured...
Rotor's POV:
I ended up in green water. "What is this stuff? Wait a sec... it's that same green water. No wonder this place is so green."
Sonic's POV:
"Now, you shall pay for what you surface creatures have done to my world," says the Kraken.
"Ziss ees terreeble. Terreeble! I hahve my whahle life behind me! ziss ees ahll your fault, Sahneec ze Hahg-hedge," says Antoine.
"Hedgehog, Ant. Hedge. Hog," I said.
"Now, why is it Sonic's fault, Antoine," asks Sally.
"Because...he ees ze hero, but he cahnnaht get us out of ziss terreeble plahce," says Antoine.
"Yeah, because this pollution pit zapped all my juice," I said.
A one-eyed gator surfaces and Antoine gasps.
Rotor's POV:
I found oil and knew this meant Robotnik! The ground begins shaking, as the debris falls to the oil. I then found the others. I needed to find a way to save them. I then had an idea. I used my tools to climb up the wall and get back to the others. "Hang on," I said. I then picked them up and we made our escape.
. . .
"Thanks, Rote. You're a hero, man," says Sonic.
Sally then kisses me. "A big hero," says Sally.
"Oui," says Antoine, "ahs one beeg hero to ahnahthair, I sahlute you, Rahtor."
"Aw, it's no big deal..." I said. Then Robotnik's snake probes came, and we had to move.
. . .
As we moved, the Kraken came! "There is no escape, surface dwellers. You will die from this pollution, as all my people have," says the Kraken.
"You keep talkin', big guy, and I'll just keep on wonderin' what you're saying," I said.
"I was once king of a beautiful world, but everything was destroyed by you surface creatures. And I [coughs] am the only one left," says the Kraken.
"This is not our pollution," I said.
"There's another surface creature. His name is Robotnik. He's polluted our world as well as yours," says Sally.
The snake probes attack.
"We can take them out together," says Sonic. Sonic then fights the snake probes, and the Kraken helps and they all get destroyed!
. . .
The underground land is now restored, and the Kraken gives us water for the Great Forest.
"How's it feels to be a hero, Rote," asks Sonic.
"Exhausting. From now on, I'm happy to be a handyman," I said.
In the next chapter, the Froglodytes invade.
