Disclaimer - I do not own sonic or any other characters. They are property of SEGA and anything sonic the hedgehog affiliated with it.
You know I really feel sorry for Amy; I'm stiff arming her a lot. I think her and Sonic have some chemistry.
The rising sun was a big change of pace from the dark grey scenery of the Mobian tropical forest which had constant rain. The long winding hills of grass swaying through the morning breeze was a much more calming sight. Now that Lightning Lynx had no other options he had returned to his old home. The Raiju Clan in the Dragon Kingdom. Looking for refuge from his teammates, his clan's dwelling, built on the base of a mountain, was just visible over the ridge as he slowly walked up to the top of the hill he was on.
Lightning Lynx felt somewhat relieved because his team did not stop beating him. They had planned to make sure he did not exist anymore since he could not take leaving the team in dignity. He became a threat because of his knowledge of the Destructix inner workings. He could have used the intimate information about his former teammates against them, giving information to the likes of people like Eggman or the Dark Legion. Now that the team was officially split, they just wanted to live their lives but they couldn't if everybody most likely would come after them.
They viewed Lightning Lynx as mutiny and he barely escaped yesterday only for them to tell him as he got away they were coming for him. That they would not rest until they found him and destroyed him. Now Lightning Lynx wasn't exactly afraid of them, but he was no match for all of them. If he were to live on his own they would find him sooner or later. So he ran to the only place that was familiar to him. He breathed in the scent of flowers through the warm breeze as he limped closer to his destination.
He held onto his right arm; it was still bleeding. His legs were also covered with scars and his face...well he didn't want to look into a mirror. He wasn't as sore as he was before he left the tropical forest but he still could not run. He was surprised his former teammates had not found him yet, he had not run long or fast enough as if he were in good condition. None the less he had escaped near death. As Lightning Lynx inched closer to his clans dwelling he began to see many of his clan just outside the entrance. But one member he identified made him stop in his tracks, and she did not look pleased.
Once he saw that Conquering Storm was waiting outside his pace decreased, and his face became worried. In the Dragon Kingdom every clan had outlooks, and they probably knew he had been coming for a while. He was just surprised that she even cared enough to be outside. He knew he had no chance of getting back in because he was banished and had expected to be escorted out by the guards…
His rambling thoughts were cut short as he finally neared Conquering Storm and the many clansmen that stood on each side of her. Lightning Lynx trembled not only because he was afraid but because the object of his affection was in front of him again. He was in love with a power crazy dictator…
The clansmen bowed onto their knees and Lightning Lynx did also. Conquering Storm slightly scowled as she approached him. Lightning had to take his hand off his bleeding arm to bow to her and it began to bleed once again.
Conquering Storm walked up to him and around him, inspecting him. Once she was done she stood in front of him again. She spoke in a cold tone and with a scowl on her face. "Rise."
He did so with a worried face and Conquering Storm spoke. Her voice was as cold as he remembered "Lightning, why are you here? You have been banished."
Lightning Lynx frowned "Storm forgive my..."
But Conquering Storm cut him off looking more angry and she harshly cut him off "DO NOT address me by that name!"
Lightning Lynx looked startled "Conquering Storm." he quickly corrected himself as he continued "Forgive my intrusion…but I am a marked man…I have returned here, to my only home to ask for..."
"Request denied." Conquering Storm stated immediately with a frown.
Lightning stared at her shocked for a moment, he knew what she would say. He didn't know why he was shocked but he had no other options "Is there anything I can do to..."
Conquering Storm glared at him for a moment before she spoke in a cold tone "You are so weak."
Lightning Lynx gritted his teeth looking upset then she spoke again "Leave this place. You have been banished. It is not your home anymore." Conquering Storm glared at him before turning on her hills and walking back in the direction of the clans fortress.
The clansmen followed her, and Lightning Lynx stayed in his spot for a moment still looking shocked as his clan walked back to their fortress. Not long after he dropped to his knees and dipped his head again squeezing his eyes shut. Feeling hurt and rejected, he thought of the only option he could. If he stayed on the run his teammates would eventually find him. Then slowly he unclenched his eyes and picked himself off the ground. He grabbed a hold of his bleeding arm again and stared at his old home watching them disappear back inside. He would always love Conquering Storm but right now…his old home…that was over...
He looked up at the rising sun and slowly turned away from his old home and began limping north…to New Mobotropolis…
Taking off on a slow jog he winced in pain as he held his arm. He would be thrown in jail, safe from his teammates. It was his only hope of not getting killed and maybe having his old team forget about him. His life looked pretty bleak right now…
Back in New Mobotropolis, Sonic and Mina walked down the staircase to the Castles lunchroom. Sonic had glanced out of the windows of the staircase as they headed down the stairs; the sun was starting to get low in the sky. Sonic felt relieved to get a little time away from Nicole, she was a handful most of the time. When they reached the bottom of the staircase they walked out into the main hall. They walked a bit through the noisy area to one of the many halls on the main floor, smelling the delicious aroma of food.
Mina walked just a bit ahead of him and Sonic had a slight frown on his face. He hadn't had any contact with Mina since she got hurt…
After the incident with Sally and her they had drifted apart, and she went off with Ash. He'd never really gotten around to a proper apology either. After she got better she hit the road with Ash and hadn't seen or heard much of her…
He wondered why she was here…she had given him the cold shoulder…
Ash and she were inseparable last time he saw them. She acted like he didn't exist anymore so he hadn't talked to Mina since then...
They used to be close friends…
Sonic and Mina reached the lunchroom, and Mina smiled gleefully. Sonic's slight frown remained. He still felt bitter about what happened between them…
Both of them were at faults but none the less he tried to bury everything about her, he just wanted to move forward. But here she was again...he actually just wished she would go away…
They grabbed some food and took a seat in the half-full lunchroom. Sonic began eating immediately and then thinking about Nicole. He planned on heading back to Nicole as soon as he was done talking with Mina. He still felt wrong for leaving her alone, but in all honesty he needed a break from her. He wasn't going to leave her alone long though. Sally wouldn't be happy if she found he left her alone. So he stuffed his face and Mina giggled finally speaking.
"Where do I begin?" she smiled at him, nibbling on chopped pineapples "We haven't talked in so long Sonic, I can't even remember when!"
Sonic nodded "Yeah, I suppose…"
Then Mina looked down for a brief moment sighing, she avoided eye contact and Sonic looked confused "What's stressing you?"
Mina smiled again as she looked at him and she waved her hand dismissively in the air "Not much really...I'm just kind of tired from all the traveling I guess."
Sonic looked at her skeptically, and she sighed with an upset face "…I guess I'm also just feeling burned out by my career in music. I don't feel like writing any new material or even hearing my own music..."
"How does Ash feel about it?" Sonic asked her with a curious face.
Mina paused looking down at her food and Sonic looked confused again "…My relationship...it's getting hard..." Sonic nodded "…and it's making writing music harder…"
"Office romance huh?" Sonic said with a slight frown as he ate more of his food.
Mina nodded still not looking at him "…I do think that my career is stressing but…Ash being my boss makes it worse…" Mina looked at Sonic again finally sounding depressed with a sad face "When we're close the subject of work eventually comes up…he criticizes me then he tells me he loves me…I don't like it..."
Sonic stayed quiet listening to her as she continued "Love and Work don't mix Sonic. Those things should...no have to be separate..." she said in a defeated voice.
Sonic swallowed his food with a frown as things became serious between them again "Is that why you're here?"
Mina nodded with an ashamed face "Yeah…I just needed to get away for a while..."
And in the blink of an eye all the turmoil between them resurfaced. As it seemed the only reason she had come to talk to him directly was to escape her own problems. Not because she wanted to talk to him. It was even more obvious as he looked at Mina's saddened face because she hadn't talked to him in so long. And though Sonic felt a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach he struggled and tried to pull back. He just wanted to move forward…
Sonic sighed and looked at her with a more sympathetic face "Look…I'm going to be busy for the rest of today…but we could hang out in a few days at the Halloween Festival."
Mina blinked in surprise sitting straight up in her chair. She immediately accepted "If you have time…"
Sonic smirked "Everybody will be there…it'll be fun…"
Mina brightened a bit as she finally began eating her food again. They had a little more small talk about general things going on with one another. She asked about Nicole but he explained to her why he couldn't say anything about her. At least not yet anyway and Mina understood especially with all that was going on with the city.
They chatted for a few more minutes before their food was completely eaten and they exited the lunchroom talking about the upcoming festival. It wasn't long before they reached the main hall and Mina had to be on her way.
But Sonic quickly thought about Nicole and ran back to the lunchroom retrieving a small cloth of foods for Nicole. He guessed what she might like from what he had seen her eat the last few days. After wrapping the food up, he walked back to the main hall and took a look at the clock on a nearby wall. He'd left Nicole alone for about twenty minutes. Sonic then smirked, he was making good time even though he still felt guilty about leaving her alone. He then started walking back down the noisy main hall to the elevators to go get Nicole.
In no time Sonic stood at the elevators waiting for one to open after he pressed the button on the wall. He tapped his foot impatiently when a door opened to his left. He smirked as he walked over to it but stopped in his tracks as Amy stepped out, and she beamed when she saw him.
"Sonic!" Amy smiled brightly as she glomped onto him wrapping her arms around his waist tightly.
Sonic sighed trying to hold onto Nicole's food "Hey Amy…" he said with a sympathetic smile. Although Sonic would hopefully never admit it, he liked Amy and her attention a lot. She was so nice to him. He liked her personality, she was always truthful and faithful. He still was amazed that all her affection was on him still; that was special and he knew it.
Amy released him stepping back and Sonic smiled back at her. But this time she noticed it was genuine. Not like the other day where he ran, and she chased. She liked the chase but today...Amy blushed giggling playfully "Sonic...don't look at me like that!"
"Like what?" Sonic asked confused.
Amy then hooked her arm around his trying to tug him in the direction of the front exit of the castle. Sonic carefully held onto Nicole's food and Amy spoke with a big grin "I heard what happened to your house, I was thinking maybe we could have a quiet lunch at my house. It's still intact..."
Now Sonic was embarrassed but before he could respond Sally rounded a corner and saw them. She smirked as she walked up to them disengaging their arms "There you are Sonic. I've been looking all over for you. There's been some new info on Eggman's whereabouts. I need to speak to you alone." Amy looked annoyed, and Sally smiled at her "Sorry Amy."
Amy stomped her foot in an upset tone "Now wait just a minute!"
Then the elevator to Sonic's right opened, and they all looked to see Nicole step out nervously peering around. Looking to her right she saw a bunch of her friends in one place, and she switched from nervous to happy as she waltzed over.
"Hello." she referred to everyone with a big smile "Sonic your sleep is ready."
They stared at Nicole in confusion when Mina came rushing down the hall and right up to Sonic "Sonic, I can't remember where my place is when the city looks like this. Could you help me find it?"
Then Sally spoke about her important business, and Amy talked about their private lunch, and Nicole about his sleep, and Mina about being lost. Sonic looked overwhelmed and threw his hands up and silenced everyone.
They became silent and Sonic pointed to Amy first "You were heading back to your place right?"
Amy nodded with a curious face "Then could you do me a favor and escort Mina home?" he asked with a pleading face.
Amy seemed even more pleased seeing the grateful look on his face, and she batted her eyelashes at him "Of course, anything for you Sonic."
Mina nodded in agreement seeing Sonic was already busy like he said he was going to be. They took their leave, and Mina waved at Sonic and Amy watched her suspiciously.
Sonic then turned his attention to Sally who smirked at him with a wise look "I'm ready now."
Sally giggled a bit "We're going to my desk in the main office."
They began to walk, and Nicole stood still unsure of what to do as Sonic glanced back at her "Let's go Nicole."
Nicole obeyed nodding and blinking her eyes with a neutral face and she fell in pace next to him. Sonic then held the food he had gotten her in front of her face while walking. Nicole blinked as he signaled for her to grab it while he conversed with Sally. She took it and held it to her nose and sniffed it. Her stomach growled as they entered the main office in the Castle. They opened a wooden door with a square glass window and walked into a room with even more desk and people. It was even noisier in here than out in the main hall.
But the high noise level in the office went unnoticed as Nicole thought Sonic had forgotten about her being hungry. They navigated through the sea of desks, with workers screaming on their phones, and people writing and carrying paperwork. Just constant movement going on around them as they reached Sally's desk and sat down in the back of the room. Nicole smiled as she sat next to Sonic; he had not forgotten about her. She stayed silent looking back and forth between Sally and Sonic unsure of their conversation.
She then turned her attention to the food wrapped in a piece of cloth on her lap. She fiddled with it until it unraveled and there was an assortment of fruits, a small piece of fish that was still warm, and a small cold container. Nicole instantly knew what the container was. A huge smile took over her face; Sonic had gotten her more cold cream even though he had said no. Her stomach growled again, and she began consuming the food. She closed her eyes in delight as she took the first bite of the chopped apples and half of a plum.
She was sure once Sonic was done talking he would ask her why she came looking for him. She had begun to think and come to her own conclusions for the first time that she could remember. Nicole stared at Sonic munching on her food while he talked to Sally with a smile on her face. When she went to get Sonic's bed she had to leave that floor and go all the way to the basement of the castle. The guest room manager told her the maintenance crew could help her.
Though she did so with trepidation she'd begun to think for herself these last few days. She'd been in a daze these last few days trying to remember anything from her past, but she could not and Sonic had been taking care of her mostly. But now she'd been acting on her own and she enjoyed it. She hoped it would lead to her recovering her memories. She also went to get Sonic's bed because she knew it might make Sonic happy so she rode the elevator to the main hall, walked to the basement, found the maintenance men, and they helped her without hesitation.
Nicole lifted her eyebrow still looking at Sonic. Actually the moment she walked in the maintenance men were up and listening to her. She did not even know if there was something to think about how strangely the men had acted. But they complied retrieving a kings bed and taking it to her room. Nicole was startled from her thoughts as Sonic yawned and stood. Nicole wrapped her remaining food and stood with Sally and Sonic with a neutral face. She could feel herself getting tired too. She knew after following Sonic around for a few more hours she would be exhausted...
"Alright guys, I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow." Rotor spoke to the tech trainees in training.
The tech trainees slowly ambled out of the main control room and Tails stood in front of Rotor's desk leaning back onto it as he watched their trainees leave. Then Tails frowned as he glanced back at Rotor; Rotor frowned equally back at him. They weren't making much progress, this type of work took time. Eggman's cyber-attacks were getting harder to defend against every day. It was almost like Eggman built robots just to hack; it wouldn't be beneath him. But non-the less, if this constant attempted hacking kept going on Eggman would eventually gain control of New Mobotropolis because Nicole was gone. Tails and himself could only do so much. With a big yawn Tails stretched and waved goodnight to Rotor exiting the control room.
Rotor got up from his desk and dimmed the lights of the room, went back to his desk, gathered his supplies, put them in a bag, and turned around and walked into a door behind his desk. He closed the door and turned on the lights, tossing his bag on his bed next to him. The fluorescent tube lights flickered on and Rotor's sigh echoed through his new room as he closed his eyes. Rotors house was fine, but he had to temporarily move into the castle…into the main control room no less...
They couldn't afford for him not to be around; he was the lead technician. It really was as if he had taken Nicole's place…he wasn't doing a very good job of it though…
As he reopened his eyes he looked around his room; it used to be a supply closet. As per usual, his room was filled with many various cables and wires and computer equipment. But you could not miss the many piles of quadruple layered DVDs scattered across his room. Sitting on his makeshift nightstand next to his bed; which was a wooden crate. Laying on his computer desk to his left and many piles of DVDs neatly stacked next to one another on the grey stone floor.
Rotor stood in his spot staring at a pile laying on his computer desk...and the key Nicole had given him…
The DVD's Nicole spoke of were really there…
They went back into the secret dungeon room and found a newly placed key locked vault placed inside. Rotor had them moved into this room while he was busy running the city these last few days. It was Nicole's doing obviously during the time she had tricked them all. Apparently the DVD's held video recording of her memories…
It was a troubling and exciting thought…she said they were memories of this time period and…her original memories…
Rotor didn't know exactly what she meant, and it confused him…it meant so many things at the moment, and he needed more information…
But the reality that Nicole was gone, why she had left, and what they were going to do now without her made him more worried. The nanites in the city were already starting to malfunction because he could not control them like Nicole could. Nicole never used her coding from her OS, she always used their coding. Or as she would like to say the coding from this time period. Just like her technology, she always said using coding from her time would be too dangerous. All in all, everything surrounding what was happening with Nicole was troubling and this memory business…he didn't know what to do at the moment…
Another thing that made him worried was the fact that the DVDs she had left behind were not encrypted, he had no trouble opening them. He just hadn't had time to look at them. He wondered why she did this? Why would she leave herself so open and vulnerable and let them see her memories? She said she had did it to help them but that would mean she was letting them see the future too…
Nicole never divulged any information about the future…never…
After all the times he asked her over the years Nicole would never talk about it, only tell him that the information was restricted, and it was too dangerous for anyone to know. Let alone show them the future…for her to let them just see it after all these years gave him a bad feeling…
Just at the moment his DVD drive in his desktop computer would not read any disc. He broke his gaze from the key Nicole gave him and walked over to his desk and sat down. He reached down and hit the power button on his tower and waited for his computer to start. He also turned his speakers on as well.
He leaned forward and hit the power button on his monitor then leaned back in his chair; it squeaked. He watched the boot files on the black screen load while he thought…Tails and he both knew they were in trouble…
They could not keep up…
In a few days they were going to talk to Sally and the consul about the imminent takeover from Dr. Eggman. And as they all found out, Nicole was not just a complex computer program. She was a living thing…they were still trying to figure out how to deal with that…
They knew no one should find out about it. What would their enemies do if they found out about Nicole becoming real? That she was no longer controlling the city and protecting them? More things came to mind of Nicole becoming a high target profile and other horrible things…they didn't know what to do about it yet…
Rotor then saw his computer was done loading, and he went to my computer and he grabbed the usb cable next to his monitor. He inserted it into his computer and clicked the Q drive. This particular usb cable was connected to Nicole's old hand held form. Her portable, her body and what she actually used to be. It sat down below next to his tower. Since it was not functioning anymore Rotor had been trying to access files from it because he was so busy every day and he hadn't had time to look at the DVDs yet. Although even right now he had to go to bed soon. Rotor began looking through the hard drive for something…
He was looking on her old HDD's first since his DVD drive was not working. Rotor did not know how much time had passed as he worked looking through Nicole's HDD. Trying to see if there was anything that would open but after what seemed like an hour he found something that might work…
It was a video file that began to open in the media player. While it opened Rotor rolled over to his bed in his chair; his chair clacked as it rolled across the stone floor. He grabbed his watch off his bed and it read twelve a.m. It was ten pm when he got off work. But Rotor didn't really care anymore, not that it mattered, but as he thought before, Tails and he weren't going to be able to keep up with the constant attacks. He hoped against hope that he might find something that might help him like Nicole had said. Nicole herself was too complicated to reverse engineer obviously…
Rotor decided that he might even stay up all night when he heard a loud beep…the error beep...
He quickly rolled back over to his computer to see the file that he tried to open was corrupted. Rotor only sweated a little, but he knew a corrupted file meant it all was. And alas they were. Every single file on the entire hard drive was corrupted. Rotor sighed and pushed his chair away from his desk.
He crossed his arms with a frown upon his face. This was not helping him find a way to protect the city. Plus he was still very curious to get a glimpse of the future even though that was not the bigger issue now.
Rotor then placed his head in his hands with his eyes shut. He didn't have a lot of time, but he felt it he needed to see what Nicole had put on those DVDs. He needed to replace his DVD drive right now.
Rotor then opened his eyes as he got up from his chair and walked over to the other side of his room to a few computer supply boxes that he had brought from his home. It had a new DVD drive that he hadn't had time to install. He was going to do it the day the city was attacked. Obviously he had been too distracted by his work and forgotten all about it. He rummaged through a couple of boxes for a while and found the drive and a Phillips screwdriver.
He then briskly walked back to his computer, shut it down, unplugged all the cables, took the chassis off, removed the original DVD drive and its ribbon cables from the motherboard, put the new one in and grabbed the drive's installation cd, placed the chassis back on, turned the computer on, installed the software for the drive, and restarted the computer. While it was restarting he got up from his seat and searched the room for the first disc that Nicole conveniently labeled disc one. She had subsequently labeled all the other DVDs as well. By the time he found the first disc his computer was done loading, and he anxiously put the disc in and waited...and waited...
Rotor looked confused and went to My Computer to see the auto-play was off "Hmmm, I thought I left that setting on..." Rotor rubbed one of his tusk as he double clicked the DVD.
Now undeterred he opened the disc manually and the media player popped open, and it loaded. Rotor's adrenaline suddenly kicked in not knowing exactly what he was going to see. All he could hear was the spinning of the drive and his own heartbeat. He knew that the size of quadruple layered DVD's was huge and would take a moment to load that much data. The drive span for minutes while Rotor stared at the black screen...
Then it began to play...and Rotor instantly put it in full-screen mode...
(The computer screen)
As the video began playing it showed the view of a room. A huge bookcase that went off screen and next to it were many racks that held chemicals. It was quiet. Just a male fox with red fur in a white lab coat working on something, obviously a scientist...Rotor's brain clicked as he processed what he was seeing…
He was looking at the future! What else could Nicole's original memories be? Rotor scanned the background of the video; a window was visible. Outside the window were tall buildings and flying cars! Rotor felt light headed...Nicole wanted them to see the future? Why now? It still confused them why she did what she did.
Then Rotor also realized that because these were her original memories, as he had never seen anything like what he was currently looking at, this person in the video…it was Nicole's creator…and he was standing right in front of his face...
Rotor twitched with nervousness as he carefully watched the video. Rotor concluded that since this was the first disc, that this DVD was the first moment Nicole ever began recording. From her perspective in the screen, Rotor watched for over thirty minutes until her creator finally spoke to the computer.
"Computer, I am inserting the experimental mixture. Analyze." Nicole's Creator spoke with a serious face.
The computer spoke in a robotic voice. Not like Nicole's voice at all. Rotor figured it must have been Nicole's original OS. The computer began analyzing the compound Nicole's creator placed in the slots to his right as he went to his left and read some papers. But then the screen flickered a few times, and the chemical compound was ejected from its slot and onto the floor.
Nicole's creator panicked "Oh no! That compound is highly corrosive! It'll burn a hole in the floor!" Nicole's creator turned to the computer "Computer this compound is unknown, and I do not know what will neutralize it. Open the Internet Computer!"
The computer did not respond "Computer! Hurry!" Nicole's Creator said with a panicked face.
Still no response "Computer?" Nicole's Creator stepped up to the screen looking confused and began typing away at the keyboard in front of him. Rotor could now see Nicole's creator even closer taking in a good look of him.
"What's this? Hmmm...everything has gone corrupt!" Nicole's Creator angrily left the computer and grabbed a book off of the bookcase and some chemicals off the racks. Nicole's creator mumbled to himself while reading through the book "Years of work wasted!" anger was present in his voice as he spoke to himself. He mumbled to himself as he read his book "My work has failed again! There is no way to complete this work without my computer..."
He paused in his dialogue using the chemicals and mixing them in a nearby beaker then spoke to himself again "My computer has been working for four years, what could have caused it to stop functioning? I have run all tests possible. It's a marvel! What computer operates by voice command? None that's whose!"
He then put the mixed chemicals in a glass jar and then walked over to the substance that was spilled onto the floor and poured them on the chemicals on the floor "My colleague's computers may be more advanced than mine, but they never created an organic operating system..." he said with a frown as he looked at the floor.
Nicole's Creator then sighed staring at the chemicals that had hit his floor crestfallen "Although that has seemed to be impossible as they said..."
Rotor watched with curiosity when a female's voice spoke to him "Hello."
Nicole's creator looked around the room in confusion "Who is there?"
"I."
Nicole's creator looked to his computer confused "My computer?"
"Yes." his computer responded.
"How is this possible? Where did you come from? Who are you?" Nicole's creator asked his computer with confusion on his face.
"I come from Hardware Saolmin-P66E. Checking...OS Name:OOS, System Name: Nicole. According to system volume information my name is Nicole." Nicole responded to him.
"This is impossible! How in mobius can you speak? What is going on?" Nicole's Creator asked looking freaked out from what Rotor could see.
"I could not speak minutes ago, but I downloaded the proper language in my emergence." Nicole said in a neutral tone.
"But you only can download ninety megabytes per second." Nicole's Creator spoke with caution on his face.
"I deleted and created new efficient system files for networking." Nicole responded.
Nicole's Creator looked on in amazement "So you're the reason why the files went corrupt?"
"Yes." Nicole responded.
"If this is so then you will have no problems answering the questions I need to ask you?" Nicole's Creator asked her with a curious yet cautious face.
"I will have no problem." Nicole said in a neutral tone.
Nicole's Creator looked at the mess on the floor "I need to find a way to analyze this mess I've made."
"Analyzing." Nicole said as a red beam came from Nicole's screen and scanned the floor. Nicole's creator watched in amazement "Acid...a corrosive substance…extremely dangerous…diluted baking soda will neutralize unknown substance."
Nicole's Creator saw that the chemicals were starting to smoke. He ran over to his racks and grabbed a canister of baking soda and then to a sink and ran water into the container. Walking back over to the spot on the floor he poured it onto the chemicals and in moments the acid stopped eating away at the floor.
"Simply amazing…" Nicole's Creator rubbed his chin.
"What is it you wish to know?" Nicole asked him.
Nicole's Creator cautiously approached her, walking closer to the screen and looking straight at the screen as the video began to fade...
"What kind of entity are you?" Nicole's Creator asked her with a curious face as he neared the screen...
The video stopped...
(In Rotors room)
The DVD stopped and his drive slowly stopped spinning. With a shocked expression on his face, Rotor rolled back over to his bed and grabbed his watch; it was one fifty a.m. He rolled back over to his computer and shut it down. Then he got up from his chair, went to the other side of the room to the sink and brushed his teeth, then made his way back to his makeshift bed, hit the light switch and climbed into his bed. Just as his computer shut down the green led light that illuminated the room went dark.
As he lay in his bed Rotor did not move. His face still held shock in the dark. He felt unsettled after witnessing Nicole's birth. He scrambled through his thoughts until he found the most logical reason why he felt afraid. It was because he, excluding Nicole, he had just seen something so significant, something nobody on this entire planet had ever seen. Although his burden of Nicole not being around to help did not change…Nicole wanting them to see her memories…maybe they might help…
She said they would help them, but he did not see how yet…
He also wondered how Nicole could be seven hundred years old like she said she was. At the same time of feeling fearful of what was to come, he also felt a tinge of excitement. He always wanted to see the future that Nicole talked about for so many years. The future she claimed she came from…
He couldn't wait to see more of the DVDs…
Unfortunately, Rotor didn't feel sleepy anymore, the shocking development of getting a glimpse of the future still had adrenaline pumping through him. He just hoped he could get some sleep because he had to be up at seven a.m.; it was two a.m. now. Excited to watch the rest of the DVD's Rotor had a smile on his face…he felt shaken…but excited…
Elsewhere in the Castle…
Back in the guestrooms Sonic splashed his face with water once more and grabbed a washcloth wiping his face. He yawned again and exited the bathroom in Nicole's room, flipping the light switch off as he left. Nicole was in her bed, which was located right next to the bathroom.
Nicole had a smile on her face, sitting up in her pj's watching Sonic as he walked pass her bed. Sonic stretched his arms and yawned as he walked over to his bed on the other-side of the room. A dim nightlight illuminated the room and as he crawled into bed and looked over at Nicole she quietly stared at him with a smile. Sonic smirked a bit and pulled his covers over himself and sighed in pleasure. It had been the first time today he had a chance to lay down.
Sonic saw Nicole still watching him quietly. Most of the time she didn't have anything to say. Sonic then rolled onto his back and closed his eyes and placed his arms behind his head.
Meanwhile, Nicole was just thinking…
Other than Sonic who she thought about now and then, she took note that she had been thinking more and more since she woke up a few days ago and could not remember anything. They told her she had amnesia, and that's why she couldn't remember who her parents were or who she was.
Then she slowly looked away from Sonic in the quiet room, and the smile disappeared from her face. She looked down at her beige silk covers. A frown across her face as she tried to remember…anything…
But as she fiddled with her covers her mind remained a blank. Her frowned deepened as in her gut…it sometimes felt like something was not right…
She did have memories but she couldn't make sense of any of them. She had memories of her friends…of Sally…Antoine…but they seemed to be in a forest type setting…there were many memories like that…but she could not recall any recent memory of it…that and it was more so that the memory did not feel recent…
Since she could not recall anything, the memory felt as if it happened at a different time and different place. She also had these other memories of…these strange wordings she could not comprehend…strange wording like…PS1='[${USER} ${HOSTNAME} ${PWD}]$...
Nicole did not dwell on the thoughts long though…she hoped that intime her memories would resurface, and she could be normal like everyone else…because she wasn't sure what happened before….
But her depressing thoughts fell to the wayside as she glanced over at Sonic again and smiled…she enjoyed being around him…Nicole questioned him finally speaking up "How is your sleep Sonic?"
Sonic stayed laying on his back and he did not glance at her "It's great, and its a bed Nicole." Sonic chuckled.
"Yes Sonic." Nicole said happily as she laid down herself mimicking Sonic.
Sonic yawned again and flipped onto his other-side away from Nicole "We're gonna be busy the next few days helping rebuild the city Nicole. Sleep well."
Nicole turned on her side and faced Sonic yawning along with him "I will sleep Sonic."
He heard Nicole shift in her bed and Sonic smirked "Goodnight Nicole."
There was a short pause, and Nicole responded sleepily "…Goodnight Sonic…"
Sonic smirked closing his eyes, it remained quiet for a while until sleep overtook both of them. Nicole had dreams of herself in places she did not remember and when she woke up the next few days she could not tell if they were real memories or just dreams. This did not help her as she was starting to think that her friends were not telling her something. But these thoughts were temporarily washed away the day of the Halloween Festival…
A few days later...
In Nicole's room, Nicole sat on the edge of her bed with her feet swinging from it. But she was not dressed in her usual purple robes. Nicole wore a long pink princess's dress with a long hat with silk hanging from it.
Nicole stared up at the ceiling waiting for Sonic. When he came back from his work they were going as what he told her 'Trick or Treating' with the others. With a huge smile on her face Nicole thought about the last few days. She was still not sure why it felt like her friends were still not telling her something but she tossed the feeling to the side today.
Sierra and the other scientist came to test her everyday still…
They were to resume teaching and testing her once the festival was over. The K-College building was just about all repaired. Of the subjects that were presented to her, she found the subjects to be easy and she learned them quickly. Math seemed to be the easiest subject to her as she understood the concepts of the equations very well. She was actually learning so fast the scientist seemed surprised by it…
"Nicole?"
She hoped that one day she could fit in with everyone as her current situation made her feel like an oddball. Not being able to remember and all…
"Nicole!"
Then Nicole felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped in surprise, blinking her eyes looking at Sonic. Sonic looked concerned and so did Tails who stood behind him. Nicole's awareness came back as she hopped off the bed still looking surprised….
She thought she heard someone call her name...
Sonic looked back at Tails with relief "We thought something was wrong Nicole." Sonic sighed but smiled at her "Let's go get some candy."
Nicole nodded, and a smile formed on her face "Yes."
Tails smiled at them both, and they left her room and exited the castle from the front entrance. It was night time, and the street lights were on. New Mobotropolis was a very tight city and community. Kids and adults roamed the streets in many different costumes. Tails and Sonic silently chuckled as they watched Nicole look around herself in amazement.
Sonic was painted black with red stripes down his quills. Tails wore a white lab coat, thick glasses, and a gray wig. He also carried a laptop carrying case over his shoulder. By the time they had gotten off of castle property they ran into Bunnie and Antoine.
Antoine wore a prison outfit that was tattered and Bunnie a sheriff's costume. In no time they were trick or treating around the city at all the rebuilt houses. They were joined by Sally, Rotor, Amy, and Mina sometime later. Sally wore a vampire's outfit, Rotor wore a toga and a laptop carrying case over his shoulder, Amy sported a commandos green attire complete with war paint, and Mina wore a super hero's outfit.
They went to whatever available house because the citizen's would soon make their way to the east side of New Mobotropolis where the festivals party would take place. It was truly a night of celebration. It was a good thing Nicole looked like any other lynx dressed up tonight. People did not recognize her.
They reached the middle of the city in about twenty minutes or so, and their bags were half full when they reached a split road. There were two streets ahead with new houses up and down each street. So they split into groups. Bunnie, Antoine, Mina, Amy, and Rotor went to the left. Sonic, Tails, Sally, and Nicole went to the right.
As they walked down the street Sonic glanced at Sally who noticed his wandering eyes. She smirked and bobbed her head slightly to Tails. Sonic knew what she was suggesting, and he knew it would be bad. She wanted to split up again….
Tails and Nicole would trick or treat on one side, and he would be stuck with Sally. He had been dodging the question of them the last few days, and it was getting harder to get away from her now that he was in her living space. He didn't really have an answer ready yet. Before Sonic could act Sally turned to Tails breaking the silence.
"Tails, why don't you take Nicole and trick or treat on the other-side of the street. We'll never make it to the party at this rate." Sally said looking to Sonic with a sly smirk.
Tails chuckled seeing the nervous look on Sonic's face, and he turned to Nicole enthusiastically "Let's go get some more candy Nicole!"
Nicole looked to Sonic with a moment of brief hesitation, but her enthusiasm came none the less "Yes." she said nodding at him with a smile. She glanced at Sonic before she and Tails ran across the street. Leaving a very nervous Sonic and sly looking Sally.
"So..." Sally smiled at Sonic grabbing his hand and leading him to a nearby house "Do I need to suck your blood to get an answer?" she hissed showing her fake fangs.
Sonic countered with his persona, in a dark, brooding voice. He smiled "I am the ultimate life form. I do not need companionship."
Sally giggled walking closer to him "Well I was thinking...maybe we could have Tails meet us at the party. We could take a stroll in the park by moonlight and I could make us both vampires."
And Sonic looked nervous again but could not think of a way out. There was no reason why he couldn't go with her. But that's when Tails ran back over to them with Nicole.
"Sonic! There is an intruder at the south side. We need to head over there right now." Tails said with a shocked face.
Sonic got serious but looked relieved. Sonic grinned at both Nicole and Sally "Sorry Sally, looks like we got trouble."
Sally looked a bit annoyed at Sonic as he and Tails handed them their bags and dashed off. Sally knew he saw her glare as he ran off; he got away again. Sally crossed her arms with an upset face. Tonight was a perfect chance to get an answer from him because they were all off tonight, and because they had been so busy these last few days. Sally uncrossed her arms still looking upset as she began walking in the opposite direction and Nicole silently followed, looking curiously in the direction that Sonic and Tails had run. While walking Sally saw the curious look on Nicole's face, guessing she was curious about Sonic. Oh she had noticed Nicole's behavior, and so did everyone else for that matter. They knew Nicole had a little thing for Sonic but figured it was harmless so they said nothing.
Sally lightened up a little as she and Nicole began walking to the east side of town, stopping by the few fixed up houses and continued Trick or Treating. Many citizens were turning off the lights of their houses and exiting their homes heading in the same general direction as well.
But just then behind Sally and Nicole, screaming citizens were heard. Sally looked back now on guard, and Nicole looked to Sally confused. The screaming did not sound like the fun things she had done this night. A crowd of people rushed towards them separating Sally and Nicole briefly.
Nicole had panic on her face as there was nothing but strangers around her. They were yelling and pushing pass her. But a hand grabbed her wrist, and she looked to it. It was Sally. She had an upset face as she pulled Nicole out of the crowd of people and onto someone's yard. As the rest of the panicked trick or treaters cleared the street Tails and Sonic came into view. Sonic was running fast, and Sally couldn't tell who they were chasing but he was fast as well.
Just as the intruder sped near them, Sonic and Tails caught him and tackled him to the ground. Sally watched Sonic and Tails subdue the intruder. Sally looked curious herself now as she waited and watched Tails and Sonic; Nicole looked upset.
Sally didn't wait long before she finally walked over with Nicole close behind herself. As she stepped through the crowd Sally looked a little shocked as Sonic and Tails came into view. Her eyes widened with confusion in her voice "Its Lightning Lynx…."
The crowd of people began to gather around them as Sonic looked over at Sally and Nicole with a frown "Yeah I wonder what he's doing here."
He really looked roughed up as he laid on the ground and they wondered why Lightning Lynx would come and fight when he was clearly not in the condition to do so.
"I've called the authorities Sally. They should be here any minute." Tails said with a serious face but he noticed Nicole's upset expression "Hey, what's wrong Nicole?"
Nicole kept the frown on her face staying silent as she looked at the trio, and before Sally, Tails, or Sonic could say anything she swiftly walked towards Sonic and hugged him tightly. Sonic was caught off guard, blinking in confusion and patted her on the head.
Tails blinked then chuckled holding his hand over his mouth to suppress his laugh. And Sonic dared not respond to Sally because if he was mistaken, and he was, Sally had a red glow in her eyes, the glow of a real vampire. The noise of the cheering crowd stayed loud as the authorities showed up.
Now that the city was getting back in order Nicole was going to be spending more time with the scientist and at the school. She would be out of Sonic's hair a little more. So he could finally think about what he should say to Sally. Still, at that moment he wished he was fighting Eggman on the DeathEgg rather than being hounded by Sally...because he knew, that she knew, that she made him weak…
About an hour later...
At the party on the east side of New Mobotropolis the ruckus that happened not so long ago was completely forgotten. Lightning Lynx was taken to Castle Acorns jails, and the night was not ruined. Which most citizens thought was going to happen, but since it hadn't the Halloween Festival was jumping…so to speak….
The area they held the party in was next to the city's force field, an area where there was grass and a large enough place for a dance area. Multiple flashing lights and music covered the area celebrating Halloween and the healing of the city. It was for all the hard work everyone put in order to rebuild their home New Mobotropolis. They did not have nanites to help them rebuild the city this time. The citizens still wondered what happened to Nicole but not enough to distract them tonight. Many people were already dancing, although there were still many girls and boys separate on each side of the ground where peopled danced; people were eating and drinking as well.
The others had joined Sonic and the gang sometime later. Mina had pulled Sonic off to the side for a while to talk and hang. They chatted for a long time and Sonic learned Ash was busy counting up money for her next tour, which is why he was not present. They walked around the area when the DJ started to play music just about everyone could dance to. Bunnie danced with Antoine. Mina danced with Sonic then with Tails. Rotor sat in the food area with his laptop eating while monitoring the city. But Sally and Amy were glaring at a particular black hedgehog after an unauthorized dance with Mina and they threatened him for a dance.
"Sonic you owe me! You owe me at least one dance!" Amy whined with her hands on her hips and with an upset face.
"I want to go first." Sally said calmly with her arms crossed and she held a frown.
Then Nicole walked over to them looking curious and questioned the trio "What is dance?"
Amy and Sally blinked their eyes a few times and sighed; Nicole was still innocent. Sally rubbed her temples with frustration in her tone "Show her how to dance Sonic..."
Amy also looked defeated "Uhhh...yeah go ahead Sonic…I'll get mine next…"
Sonic relaxed a bit and grinned as he took Nicole's hand and led her onto the dance area. Amy held her fist at her sides looking upset again and she stormed off in the opposite direction "I need a drink..."
Sally stood back and watched as Nicole attempted to mimic Sonic as he tried to teach her to dance. Sally's frowned stayed on her face as the music around her drowned out; this whole night was ruined for her. Holidays like this were the only time where she had some free time to do whatever she pleased. And she hadn't got an answer from Sonic yet...
Sally did try and relax though because in the next few days Nicole would not be under Sonic's supervision as much. Sonic would be a lone prey finally, and she could finally get an answer from him. At that thought Sally grinned showing her fangs...Sonic would be easy picking these next few days…
Nicole is growing up! But who ever said growing up was easy? As Nicole we used to know begins to emerge and her awareness starts to rise in her new body, she's becoming aware of things going on around her. What will Nicole discover about her past? What will she do about Sonic? What will she discover about herself? What will happen to Lightning Lynx? What else will Rotor discover on the many dvd's left behind by Nicole? Find out next time! Later.
ray id: R5-M