Chapter 40: Bartleby the Prisoner:

Bartleby's POV:

Rosebud tea. One of the many pleasures of being a wealthy aristocrat. Then my doorbell rings. "Who on Mobius could it be at this hour? Oh drat, I'll have to get it myself." The doorbell rings again. "Patience, patience!" I then opened the door and there's a cannon aimed at me. "Good grief! Urgh!"

"Sir Bartleby MontClair. You are charged with being a traitor, a rebel, and an enemy of Robotnik," says Coconuts.

"Well, that's outrageous! That's-"

"That's up to the jury. Come with me and this swatbot," says Coconuts.

Sonic's POV:

Rotor was getting a TV working. "Do we really need this thing," asks Knuckles.

"Television rots your brains," says Espio.

"We have to find out what's going on in Robotropolis," says Sally.

"Wait, what's that," asks Tails.

"All rise. Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Robotnik presiding," says Sleet.

"Bartleby, you are accused of seditious crimes against my empire. How do you plead," says Robotnik.

"This is outrageous! I'm a nobleman, a supporter of your... your empire," says Bartleby.

"How do you plead," asks Robotnik.

"I donate money to your causes. I entertain you in my home," says Bartleby.

"And your plea," asks Robotnik.

"Don't I even get an attorney," asks Bartleby.

Sleet then turns Dingo into an attorney.

"Your attorney. Now then. How do you plead," asks Robotnik.

"It's Bartleby," says Sally.

"We now join the trial in progress for prosecuting attorney Sleet's opening statement."

"Illustrious jury. You see before you... a man accused of treason. A man accused of helping the Resistance in their evil plot to depose our great leader," says Sleet.

"This is awful. They're punishing Bartleby because of me," says Sally.

"Get on with it, you fool," says Robotnik.

"Oh, yes sir. So anyway, when, erm, if we find him guilty, you know what to do. He says he's innocent. But if he lies, you must roboticized," says Sleet.

"Moy client is innocent. Even though he looks loike a guilty triteah t' me," says Dingo.

"With a defense like Dingo, who needs a prosecutor," I said.

. . .

Sally and I snuck into Robotropolis. "I'll talk to Bartleby," says Sally.

"I'll distract the monkey," I said. I then ran in front of Coconuts. "Monkey want banana?"

"I'm going to destroy you, Hedgehog!" Coconuts then chased after me.

Sally's POV:

"You have a visitor," says a Swatbot.

"A visitor," asks Bartleby, "who?"

I came in, wearing a disguise. "It's your Aunt Sophie," I said.

The swatbot leaves. "But I don't have-"

"It's me," I said.

"Sally? What are you doing here? Robotnik's guards-"

"Never mind them. We have to get you out of here!"

"No. Go quickly. I can't let you be captured because of me!"

"And I can't see you condemned for something you didn't do. Even if it was something you should have been doing!"

"Sally, can you honestly say you're happier in the Resistance?"

"I'm happy that I'm making my life count for something! But I'm here to help you."

"You can't. I'm innocent. But they'll roboticized me all the same."

Dr. Robotnik's POV:

"Of course you're innocent, you rich fool," I said as we were watching the whole thing, "but now you and your darling Sally are being useful for a change... as bait for my trap."

"Bigh'? Ahh we goin' feeshin'," asks Dingo.

"Could you be any dumber if you were a Mobian muskrat," asks Sleet as he turns Dingo into a muskrat, "I guess not." Turns him back.

"Yes, it's only a matter of time before Sally decides to save Bartleby," I said, "with Sonic's help!"

Bartleby's POV:

Dingo and I were in the courtroom.

"I do hope you do a better job in court today," I said.

"Ah, nao wohroys. Yaw gettin off anywhy," says Dingo.

"I beg your pardon? But I'm on trial," I said.

"Duh! Yayh! Waell, if yah daon't knaow, thiies is ooll a trahp faw Sohly and those Fraydawm Foightahs," says Dingo.

"Huh?! So that's it," I said, but then I realized, "Sally! That's it! I know how to save Sally!"

Sonic's POV:

We were watching the trial. "And so, Your Honor, I am changing my plea to guilty," says Bartleby.

"What," asks Robotnik.

"What is he doing," asks Sally, "we have to get there quick!"

. . .

We arrived at Robotnik's lair. "Let the condemned prisoner approach the bench. Are you ready for sentencing," says Robotnik.

"As ready as I'll ever be," says Bartleby.

"For crimes of treason against the government, namely me, this court sentences you to-"

That's when me and Knuckles crashed in. "Objection, your Honor," says Knuckles, "you're losing!"

"Seize them," says Robotnik.

Knuckles and me then took down Sleet and Dingo while Sally gets Bartleby out of there. "Time to juice and jam," I said. We then left.

"SONIC," shouts Robotnik.

. . .

"I'm not very good at being noble, Sally," says Bartleby, "well, actually I am because, well, I'm nobility, but... it doesn't take much to see that the problems of two little people don't amount to a hill of chili dogs compared to protecting this planet."

"Trying to sacrifice yourself was brave, Bartleby," says Sally, "well, we have to go now."

We then left. Who knows? Maybe he's not all that bad... maybe.

In the next chapter, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles end up in an Ancient Roman like world where Sleet is the Emperor.