Within Knothole Village, Sonic is seen playing a little game of checkers with Tails. It was a pretty casual game all things considered between the two, but Tails was still getting frustrated as Sonic seemed to be outplaying him.

Sonic: "You know, bud. If you want a hint, I can give you one."

Tails: "No thanks. I can still beat you. I just…"

As Tails grabs his red piece to hop over Sonic's black pieces, the two hear Sally's call, namely for Sonic.

Sonic: "Whuh oh… Sounds like Sal needs me. But um…"

Tails: "Nah, go ahead, Sonic. We can play again later."

Tails smiles innocently as Sonic pats him on the head before dashing off. A sneaky Tails then moves to Sonic's side and finishes the game with Sonic's pieces.

Tails: "I win~"

Within Freedom Fighters HQ, Sonic speeds in to see Sally and Rotor overlooking a sheet with some recent Swatbot activity that seemed highly irregular.

Sonic: "You called, Sally?"

Sally: "On time as usual, Sonic. Look over here."

Sonic: "Nice map. Is this made by one of your fancy new cameras, Rotor?"

Rotor: "Well, I do try to make state of the art."

Sonic: "What an artistic view."

Sally: "Okay you clowns, enough of the jokes. There's been some recent Swatbot activity in the southern regions here. Me and Rotor think Robotnik may be planning something, but we aren't sure."

Sonic: "So you needs a scout to get the goods?"

Sally: "Exactly."

Sonic smiles as she rubs under her nose, glad to be of service.

Rotor: "If you don't mind, I'd like to come along. Wouldn't hurt to have back up, right?"

Sonic: "Sure. Just be sure you grab your skateboard, Rotor. You need to drop weight, badly…"

Rotor: "Hey… I try…"

Slightly hurt feelings aside, the duo speed out of the hideout as they left towards the southern region of the kingdom.

Several miles south of the Great Forest was a rather barren area, with a few mountains in the background. Nothing of note for either of the Freedom Fighters. That is until they found a large carrot farm with a single house. But with that house were several Swatbot scout saucers, with Swatbots themselves coming out with a captured Mobian rabbit.

Sonic: "Swatbots at nine o'clock!"

Rotor: "But it's only one in the afternoon."

Sonic: "No, it's bot smashin' time!"

Sonic jumps into the action… only to be pulled right into the ground as Rotor accidentally weighed her down, causing her to form a hole in her shape.

Rotor: "Oops… Sorry, Sonic."

Sonic: "Remind me to buy you a jetpack, Rotor…"

The Swatbots hear the commotion as they spot Sonic and Rotor.

Swatbot 1: "Freedom Fighters spotted. Orders?"

Swatbot Leader: "Three of you stay and hold them off while the rest of us get to the Roboticization Factory stationed here."

Rabbit: "Urgh… Let mah fuzzy l'il self go, ya two bit tin cans."

Swatbot 2: "The small life form continues to be a burden. If she is not silent, we will silent her ourselves."

This makes the rabbit go quiet in fear as she is taken onto the saucers. Sonic gets out of her hole too late as she and Rotor see the saucers leave.

Sonic: "Grrreat… Not a good start to the day. Rotor, get into cover!"

Rotor does as she says, leaping into a brush as Sonic rushes in to fight the Swatbots staying behind. They open fire on her as she runs at them, dodging their blasts before ramming into them, destroying all but one of them, with the remaining one having their upper torso intact.

Sonic: "Alright, metal head. Where'd you take the bunny?"

Swatbot: "I am programmed to not speak. I have nothing to lose by remaining quiet; I have accomplished my mission."

Sonic: "Alright. Good thing I have a tech guy to convince you."

Rotor walks up as he cracks his knuckles. After a few minutes and some protests from the Swatbot, Rotor connects the last wire needed to reprogram the Swatbot.

Rotor: "There we go. And now…"

Swatbot: "Ack! Error! Circuitry all screwy! I need scissors! Eat pant! Lololololololololol!"

Sonic: "Uh…"

Rotor clears his throat before bashing the robot's head, forcing a recalibration.

Swatbot: "Mission Statement: Orders from Lord Robotnik. Subjugation of the southern regions to increase forces. Built a portable roboticizer in the local region in order to roboticize all Mobians in the area. It is… due e-e-eeeeee- east of h-h-h-here…"

The Swatbot then turns off, having exhausted too much reserve power.

Rotor: "East, huh? Sonic?"

Sonic: "Yeah, we need to hurry. Get your skateboard!"

The two soon rushed off in the direction given, hoping they would be able to save the rabbit on time.

East of where that brief fight took place, a factory stood tall with a smoke trail coming from the pipes above. Inside, several Mobians were put into a line and pushed forward as they were put into the Roboticizer - a crude variant of the real one at Robotropolis, being something akin to a slaughter machine. Just the look of it made the rabbit want to jump away, but with the Swatbots everywhere, escape seemed unlikely. The pig in front of her is pushed into the machine next, causing her to panic as he starts screaming for help.

Swatbot Leader: "In the name of Lord Robotnik, you will be converted into robots and become servants to him. You should feel honored."

Rabbit: "'Ah personally feel inclined to put th' hurtin' on that fat man."

Swatbot Leader: "Attitude adjustment required then. You are in luck…"

The robot says as the conveyor belt reveals the newly transformed pig robot, swearing allegiance to Robotnik.

Swatbot Leader: "For you, we'll make it especially slow and painful."

Rabbit: "Wh-What!? NOOOOO!"

The rabbit screams as she is tossed into the machine. Outside the factory, as a Swatbot patrol guard the entrance, a speeding hedgehog busts through them and the door they were guarding with enough force to cause them to explode on contact. Sonic soon stops as a weak-legged Rotor quickly finds a trash bin to barf into.

Sonic: "Huh. The door never stood a chance."

Rotor: "Ugh… Neither did my lunch…"

As Rotor tries to steady himself, Swatbots who heard the commotion quickly swarm the two.

Sonic: "Time to make like a speeding bullet, Rotor, and put the hurting on these tin cans."

Swatbot Leader: "Stop the hedgehog! Don't let her anywhere near the roboticizer!"

Swatbots: "Roger roger!"

Sonic quickly starts to engage in a hit in run fight with the Swatbots, keeping their attention on her as the dizzy Rotor moves to the control panel and tries to shut down the roboticizer.

Rotor: "Gotta hurry… Where's the off switch on this thing?"

One Swatbot sees what Rotor was up to and gets ready to shoot him. But thankfully, Sonic managed to kick another robot right into it, knocking it off of Rotor and off the railings.

Rotor: "Thanks, bud!"

Rotor keeps fiddling with the controls before deciding to just smash the control panel to shut off the machine. This seem to work as he hears screaming from within.

Rabbit: "Hello!? Is anyone out there!?"

Rotor: "Yeah, hold on! I'm coming in!"

Rotor rushes inside, gulping as he sees the rabbit from earlier with entirely replaced limbs - one of her arms and both of her legs up to her waist were completely roboticized.

Rotor: "Oh goodness… Are you okay, miss?"

Rabbit: "Bunnie, sir. And… not really. 'Ah can't feel mah legs or arm."

Rotor destroys the machine arms around her before getting her to her feet. Once they were out, they see Sonic starting to feel the pressure as the leader Swatbot comes in with a Demolition truck while the other Swatbots continue shooting at her.

Sonic: "This is not my idea of a picnic!"

She shouts as she continues to dodge the lasers. But then she's rammed into by the Demolition truck, knocking her to the wall as stun lasers shock her to the ground.

Swatbot Leader: "We may have lost the roboticizer. But we still have captured the hedgehog. Prepare for transport and immediate roboticization at Robotropolis."

Rotor: "Sonic!"

Bunnie: "'Ah got her, sugah. No one's gettin' roboticized on mah watch."

Bunnie then jumps in with her new cybernetic legs, suddenly feeling the pressure of the jump as she stomps in the middle of a group of Swatbots, sending them all flying.

Bunnie: "Hey, tin cans. Why dontcha mess with someone yer own size?"

Swatbot Leader: "Prisoner! How dare you! Your termination will be swift and painful!"

Bunnie got ready as the Demolition truck came at her. She quickly blocks it with her cybernetic arm, holding it back for a moment before she lifts it up over her head.

Bunnie: "More like yer about to take a well earned hike, sugah!"

She then slams the truck down, the force of which destroys the leader by popping off his head. Bunnie then just looks at her cybernetic arm, impressed by her own increased strength.

Rotor: "Hey, Sonic. You okay?"

Bunnie: "Huh? Oh yeah. Sugahog, ya look pretty tired."

Sonic gets onto her feet, waving off their concern.

Sonic: "Nothing I haven't felt before. But man… That was one heck of an arm, miss."

Bunnie: "Name's Bunnie Rabbot (Rab-boh), sugah. But I guess ya can call me Bunnie Rabbot (Rab-bot) now!"

Sonic: "Rabbot, huh? Hehe. I like it. Nice to meet you, Bunnie. With strength like that, we could level the playing field with Robotnik. What do you say, wanna help us out?"

Bunnie: "Say no mo'e, sugahog. I'd be mo'e than happy to join to kick Robotnik's butt. And maybe find a way to turn lil ol' me back to normal."

Rotor: "We'll see what we can manage, Bunnie. In the meantime, welcome aboard."

Sonic: "Sally's gonna be quite happy to hear this news."

The mention of Sally causes Bunnie to gasp as she had heard of Princess Sally Acorn and her band of Freedom Fighters.

Bunnie: "W-Wait… Ya mean that Sally? Th' princess herself? Ya… Ya think she's lookin' fer a hair dresser by any chance…?"

Sonic and Rotor chuckle as the trio start making their way home, Rotor taking a Swatbot saucer instead of the Sonic Express again. With a new ally in Bunnie Rabbot, Sonic's band of misfits grows even stronger. Will this turn the tide of their fight? Find out next time…

Bunnie Rabbot (Real Name: Bunnie Rabbot)
Age: 16
Rank: Cybernetic Strength of the Freedom Fighters

A simple southern belle from the southern regions beyond the Great Forest, Bunnie is the latest member of the Freedom Fighters. A heart of the south, she's the kindest member of the group, being hospitable to those she likes. She hopes to one day restore her limbs to normal, but at the moment, that is a far flung dream with the ongoing war.