Scratching the Box

by TheMaxx

Being able to think, but not being able to feel is a madding feeling. After temporarily switching bodies with Sally, Nicole cannot not stop thinking of the experience. Even years after that fateful day, she can not forget, she thinks but she cannot feel. Unable to control herself or her thoughts any-longer, she acts on ulterior motives.

10. Open Sores

Disclaimer - I do not own sonic or any other characters. They are property of SEGA and anything sonic the hedgehog affiliated with it.

All was quiet in Nicole's bedroom the next morning as sunlight pierced her blue curtains and spilled over her legs onto her bed sheets. She didn't sleep well…

She lay awake, staring at her white ceiling, feeling she had not adjusted just yet to being back home in New Mobotropolis…or whatever she remembered was home…

It was still too close to call being only her second day back though. She had not made any friends while away…

And with just the little she had learned of yesterday, of her past and what the people of New Mobotropolis might think of her now, she knew she wouldn't be making any new friends while back home either. Coupled along with her cloudy past and a relationship to the citizens of the city she didn't even remember, she quickly realized she was a public figure when Sonic told her yesterday when they were out. It was going to be even harder for her to fit in since she now knew she had a negative public opinion…

It was a big reason why everyone was staring at her…

She also wondered how much her friends had changed. Even though she had nothing to compare them to since she still had mental issues with amnesia…

She couldn't recall much about her friends from six years ago because it was still such a blur to her. When she woke up six years ago she couldn't remember anything, and she'd only been with her friends for a short time before she left. So she didn't remember much about their personalities. Since she also couldn't remember anything at the time, she also didn't know what they were like before she woke up. So because of her naivety mentally at the time, she was mostly unaware of whom her friends were…

And why and how she got that way…waking up in the middle of the city with no memory…

She didn't want to know yet so Rotor hadn't told her…but she had a vague notion that she had something to do with it…and she wasn't ready to confront it yet…

She also had all these other memories for years she could not make sense of…

Of places she couldn't remember being but the dreams and memories were so vivid…they couldn't not be real…

She had a bad feeling they were real…she still wasn't ready to deal with all of it yet…

But tired of her inner ramblings, Nicole pulled off her sheets and got up and out of bed; changing from her night clothes into her purple robes. She hadn't unpacked her belongings yet so her closet and other areas in her house remained empty as she went into her bathroom to clean herself.

She was to meet with Rotor in a few hours, and they were going to head to Castle Acorn to start and discuss things…

As she left her bathroom satisfied with her appearance and headed downstairs, she was saddened that on just her second day back they were going straight into serious business. It only served to frustrate her more as she did not even know what was going on…

She had hoped to get to know her friends again or not even bring up her past so soon. But her friends were ready to start talking to her right away…as if they were waiting…

She had hoped maybe her past, and her life would unravel more slowly so she could handle the blows better…

But no…there seemed to be no such luxury for her…it seemed people here in New Mobotropolis had become apathetic too…

She stood in the middle of her downstairs area with a frown on her face; people could be so cruel…

She knew she it was time to face her past now that she was back but even after all her growing in her time away. She worried if she was as prepared as she claimed…because she sure didn't feel so any longer with each new discovery about herself…

She hoped Sonic had not become apathetic…

And for her claims for independence she still clung to Sonic…

Because he had been her guardian and continued to befriend her more than the rest of the Freedom Fighters, she clung to her hopes even more…or delusions…of her strong feelings for him…

So far his trust had been strong…she only hoped it had not changed…

She then lost her frown, and she sighed with neutral face; but her mouth stayed curved down like a frown. She had awoken somewhat early and had nothing else to do so she decided to go for a walk. She left her house, walked down the pathway of her house, and walked down the sidewalks going nowhere in particular. The sun was up, and it was partly cloudy but blue skies; there were not a lot of people out though.

She and a few other people she passed by, who gave her strange looks which she ignored for the time being, were the only ones up and about the early. It was a cool mourning, and she did smirk briefly as she walked down the street to Sonic's house, passing by his home pondering what he was doing before her face returned to a slight frown; the sun did keep her warm as she walked along.

When she neared another crosswalk, a stop sign caught her attention as it suddenly fell to the ground. She lost her frown and looked curious as she walked over to suddenly fallen stop sign. When she was close enough she could see it didn't looked damaged or bent, and she wondered why such a thing would occur. The stub piece of metal the sign fell from was still in the ground it didn't looked damaged either. Then she was startled as she moved back with surprise on her face as the sign on the ground that had separated from the other piece began sliding. Nicole looked shocked as the sign piece moved itself back to the piece still in the ground and began reconnecting itself.

Nicole squinted her eyes, looking closely as the two pieces of metal merged together and pulled itself upright again, and soon it was back in place. Nicole looked baffled as she did not see anything to indicate what she just witnessed.

But she frowned as she sort of knew what she had just saw…the nantites….Rotor had told her about…

They were tiny robots that…she had created…

And she was told these tiny robots she had created hadn't been working right since she…left…

And the city was populated the robots…the entire city was made of them, and they weren't working right and hadn't been for a long time…

Nicole's frowned deepened, and she sighed and walked near the stop sign again and lifted her hand and pressed her hand against it. She pushed at it, but it was firm…

Her hand fell to her side, and she turned away from the sign and continued walking; her head dipped. With the more she found out the harder it was for her to deal with that it was something she'd done to herself…

And she wandered around for a while, passing by a few more citizens and heir strange stares before she spotted a metal and green painted bench close to an open area that looked like a park. She walked across a street and slumped down on the bench lost in thought for some time staring at the ground. There still weren't a lot of people and even some who paid her no attention, but for how long she didn't remember as soon someone startled her out of her thoughts.

Nicole looked up startled as someone placed their hand on the bench; she blinked in surprise to see Bunnie looking at her with a weak smile; wearing her usual brown leather jacket and hat "What cha doin out this early Nicole?"

Nicole did her best to muster a weak smile "…I did not sleep well…but I suppose my walk to clear my head was not successful…"

Bunnie nodded "Mind if I have a seat?" she smirked.

Nicole smirked as well "I do not mind." she responded as Bunnie took a seat next to her "What brings you out so early Bunnie?" she asked her.

Bunnie rested her arms on the back of the bench and stared up into the force field domeof the city, looking into the sky as she spoke "Looking ta do tha same…I needed to get out tha house for a minute…"

Nicole then looked straight ahead "It is good to see you again Bunnie. I am sorry about my abrupt departure when everyone greeted me yesterday, I was excited…" she smirked.

Bunnie giggled "I see you still got a thang for suga hog." she glanced over at Nicole tearing her eyes away from the sky.

Nicole looked slightly embarrassed, and she tried to hide her smile but did a bad job at it "…Yes…Sonic has caught my eye…" she kept her eyes away from Bunnie "My behavior was rude, and I have been meaning to see everyone now that I am back. How have you faired Bunnie since I was gone?" Nicole looked over at her with a weak smile.

Bunnie crossed her legs still smirking at her "Tha depends on what you mean…the way thangs hav faired for everyone tha last six years has changed for everaone…"

Nicole couldn't hold her smile any looking, and she looked saddened looking away from Bunnie and staring at the ground again; Bunnie frowned seeing this "…I want to be a Mobian like everyone else…but the more I find out the more I see I am not the same…and I am not normal like anyone else…"

Bunnies stopped resting her arms and leaned forward looking over at Nicole with a frown "…Ya know…you used ta say stuff like that sometimes…" she looked intrigued.

Nicole glanced over at her intrigued face and her strange look made her Nicole see she was looking at something else; Nicole kept her saddened face "…You see me as I was before…"

Bunnie nodded still looking intrigued "…I kno ya don't remember sweetie but…" she paused.

"I know…you can speak of it…" Nicole kept her sad face.

Bunnie nodded losing her intrigued face in place of a frown again "…When ya was a machine…a computer…thas who ya were…" Bunnie sighed "…and thas what I see when I see you...like this…"

Nicole raised an eyebrow "Like this?" she said in confusion.

Bunnie took off her hat with a serious face and placed it on the bench "…You look just like her…"

And Nicole stared at her with a frown trying to remember something, but as usual she came up with many mixed memories she could not make sense of. Memories of New Mobotropolis but they were so disconnected they didn't even feel real, though she had a hunch they were and the reason they were had something to do with her.

Nicole kept her frown as she stared at the ground again with frustration on her face and Bunnie held a sympathetic face "What was I like?" Nicole asked her.

Bunnie hesitated "…Are ya sure ya want ta talk about tha?" she kept her sympathetic face.

Nicole nodded still staring at the ground "I want to know…"

Bunnie frowned "…You were…holographic…you didn't even hav a form for some time though…"

Nicole then stopped her "Wait Bunnie…I…maybe I am not ready for that just yet…" she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath and swallowing at lump in her throat.

And Bunnie felt terrible as she suddenly scooted over to her and wrapped her cybernetic arm around her neck and hugged her. Nicole did not protest as she kept her eyes closed "I can't imagine…" Bunnie said with a sad face.

Nicole spoke with her eyes closed "I am unsure how I am to move forward...my past is hidden from me…and in my present I do not have full information…." she took a shuttered breathe "…I have had some memories come to me, and ones that I knew vanish….and with every new unearthed piece of information it makes it clear why I cannot tell…my memories are not false…but transparent…." she finished.

Bunnie stayed silent as she patted her back and Nicole continued "I've come to know some of my past over the years…but I have not come to accept it..." Nicole kept her head down "Six years and I remained unmoved...I cannot ignore any longer that I have not faced it yet…everyone knows the full story about me but me…."

"Well not everyone Nicole, tha Freedom Fighters are tha only ones who know what really happened…we were there when you did…it…and everything else has been kept a secret. As for tha people knowing about ya…well that's all a bit complicated without going into ya history…" Bunnie lightly rocked her with a frown.

"I am enigmatic to myself..." Nicole spoke again in a saddened tone; her eyes still closed.

Bunnie smirked a bit "Well look at you, using all those big fancy words. You're a smart too."

Nicole finally opened her eyes still staring at the ground "Was I like that before too?"

Bunnie released her and grabbed her hat and sat it on her lap; she held a weak smile glancing over at her "Yea…you were…"

Nicole lifted her head with a neutral expression staring straight ahead again "I suppose that comes with…being like that…"

Bunnie's face became sympathetic again "Life got a little tougher and a little betta without you around sugah…"

Nicole glanced over to her right at Bunnie "Are you upset with me for what I've done?" Nicole held her neutral face.

Bunnie stared her in the eyes and responded a few moments later dawning a slight frown "…..A little…."

Nicole stared Bunnie down then she smiled weakly again as she looked at the ground again "…Thank you for being truthful with me…"

Bunnie smiled a genuine smile this time "Ya welcome sweetie."

Nicole then glanced over at Bunnie again as two people walked past and gave Nicole strange looks. Bunnie frowned seeing it but smiled again giving Nicole her full attention "You are partially machine?" she asked in a curious tone looking at her cybernetic body part; keeping her weak smile.

Bunnie grinned as she lifted up her cybernetic arm and looked down at it "Not on the scale as you…but ahve done dealt with it almost mah whole life…" she lowered her arm glancing over at Nicole "I aint made much use out of em lately though." she admitted.

"Did it ever bother you?" Nicole asked her timidly.

Bunnie smiled "More than you know sweetheart…"

"How did you deal with it?" Nicole asked sitting straight up now; looking at Bunnie with curiosity.

Bunnie chuckled at Nicole's newfound curiosity "In time…" she responded placing her hat back on her head "Nothing stays the same forever..."

Nicole kept her weak smile "Impermanence…that is very wise…"

Nicole stood from the bench and so did Bunnie "Ya've grown inta an elegant young lady." Bunnie complimented her with a smile.

Nicole smirked "Thank you Bunnie, but I do have one more question for you?"

Bunnie placed her hands on her hip still smiling "An tha would be?"

"I do not remember where Rotor lives. Could you point my in the right direction?" Nicole looked sheepish.

Bunnie pulled down on the tip of her hat with a smirk "Why don't I walk ya there. I aint got nothing ta do righ now."

And Nicole fell into step with Bunnie as they began their trek to the south side of town. Conversing a bit more with one another about what Nicole had done while she was away and what Bunnie had been up to. Bunnie did tease Nicole a bit about liking Sonic to which Nicole responded bashfully, but their walk to Rotors house was filled with uncomfortable stares from citizens on their way there. And as the sun rose and began to get blocked by more grey clouds of the previous day, it only built up more trepidation about what was in store for Nicole.

An hour later at Castle Acorn, Nicole and Rotor walked into the main control room discussing three important subjects pertaining to her currently now that she had a landed back in New Mobotropolis; Nicole carried an orange folder under her left arm filled with many papers. They spoke of her past, the DVDs she left behind and the few things he saw, and the Consul of Acorn. Rotor was intrigued, he was sort of happy meeting and talking with Nicole after her long absence. He was also surprised by how she had grown into her own person and her amazing intellect and skills.

"You certainly have developed an impressive list of feats." Rotor said with a smile as they stepped into the busy main control room of New Mobotropolis.

Not much had changed about the room since she left other than their being more computers and them looking more updated. The ceiling was still white, and the floor and walls were still too. As per usual, all four sides of the rooms walls were lined with computers on long tables and one large computer screen that seemed oddly familiar to Nicole. Every seat was filled by a technician busily working on running the city.

"Yes, I put my time away to good use." Nicole said in a placid manner; a smile on her face.

They walked over to Rotors desk still sitting near the closest he used six years ago. Tails was also present and have waved at them and walked from the other side of the room to join them at Rotor's desk.

Nicole stood at the head of his desk, and Rotor walked around the other side of his desk, sat down, opened a desk drawer, and shuffled through one of the drawers "We won't be able to discuss the other subjects until Sierra, and the rest of the scientist arrive. We have all took an oath of silence and not spoken of you. And also because of the security risk, so by your request we have not discussed anything." he said looking down into his drawer.

Nicole nodded still smiling "To your other question, I have attained a few degrees to my interest."

Rotor looked up from what he was doing and raised an eyebrow "Just a few?" he joked "You've only been gone six years how'd you do get degrees in the plural?" he asked with confusion on his face.

Tails then reached the desk with a smile "Hey Nicole! What's going on Rotor?" he asked with a bemused face as he looked over at Rotor and his expression.

Nicole greeted Tails "Good afternoon Tails. It is good to see you again."

Tails nodded at her, and Rotor dawned a serious face at Nicole's claim; thinking how impossible her claim was, no matter how smart she was.

"I have brought my papers." Nicole said with a smirk.

And she laid her orange folder on the desk and handed three papers to Tails and Rotor. They both looked in complete shock at the three degrees all stamped with Nicole's name; Science, Mathematics, and Technology.

Tails looked shocked as their greeting was just as abrupt as it was before; jumping from formalities into such serious maters so quickly; he held wide eyes as he looked at her "How did you get all these in just six years Nicole? This amount of work is not even possible…." he said with disbelief.

Nicole did not look all too surprised by their reaction though; she looked confusedly at them "I did the work and was ahead of my classes so I finished early."

Tails handed the three degrees to Rotor, and he looked over them briefly and placed her degrees down on his desk "In these fields Nicole, what do you specialize in?" Rotor looked awestruck.

Nicole lost her confused face, and she dawned a smirk again as she thought for a second "I have taken a particular fondness to computers. In particular, I find learning new programming languages to be fun and challenging; I know many coding languages."

Tails and Rotor looked at each other with frowns wondering if they were both seeing the irony of Nicole liking computers. It only cemented it further that this was the same Nicole as when she was a computer…

"How much do you know about computers?" Tails asked her with a curious face.

"I am adept in software and hardware." Nicole nodded at Tails with a slight smile.

Tails smirked taking her up "Do you know the best language right now?"

"Java." she responded "It has been number one for years now for it all around practical use." Nicole stated keeping her slight smile.

Tails nodded with a smirk "Alright. I believe you."

Nicole giggled as Rotor then looked back down into his desk drawer and pulled from his desk a large paperback book; he then smiled again as the book smacked against the flat surface of his desk "This is what I was talking about with the DVDs Nicole." Rotors face became serious looking at her, and she frowned and so did Tails "With what happened six years ago…you…left behind three hundred twenty DVDs. And one of the discs saved New Mobotropolis…you did by leaving it behind…"

Tails crossed his arms, keeping his frown glancing over at Nicole, who frowned as well staring at the book Rotor had put on his desk "Continue…" she stated.

Rotor nodded with a serious face "Well… that disc you left behind also had something else on it that Tails, and I were able to rip off of it. This book is what we ripped from the disc…."

Nicole looked at Rotor and Tails with a frown; the book had a black plastic cover with nothing written on it and it was a very thick spiral paper notebook "That is a fairly large book. What is it?"

"Well before we go into that you should know about the OS we use now." Tails said with a frown.

Rotor nodded "You're right Tails." Rotor then looked up and spoke; Nicole looked confused for a moment "Computer, New Mobotropolis force field status." he said aloud.

And Nicole looked confused at Tails and Rotor before the voice of the New OS responded to him; a male robotic voice spoke aloud in the room "Force field capacity at one hundred percent."

Rotor looked Nicole in the eyes with a serious face, and Nicole frowned "So that is the computer you have told me about…I have not seen anything like it…"

"It's a bit complicated to get into all of it but, that is the AI of New Mobotropolis right now. We call it the New OS."

"It had another name?" Nicole asked them both with a frown.

But they remained silent and stared at her knowing she didn't remember, and Nicole's frown deepened as she realized why they were staring at her "…I see…" she stated knowing the OS used to be her, and its name was Nicole.

"But that's how it relates to the book Nicole, the OS we're running now came from that disc." Tails said uncrossing his arms and keeping his frown.

Rotor nodded seriously and placed his thumb claws on the book "This book is a manual for the New OS. It's just a little over two thousand five hundred pages and Tails, and I guess it has the coding for the New OS were using. The disc you left behind was labeled OOS. The New OS is the OOS; it was…your OS before you left…is was you basically…"

Nicole closed her eyes and sighed as she tried to digest the information; she did not respond, and Tails spoke up "Are you ok Nicole?" he frowned.

Nicole shook her head, and Rotor frowned "…I can slow down if you like…" he asked.

And Nicole nodded keeping her eyes closed "…Yes…I would prefer that…" and they both waited for a moment as Nicole regained her composure, knowing that what she was hearing was hard to take in. Then Nicole opened her eyes again and looked at Tails and Rotor with a deep frown "How do you know it's a manual? No less a manual about coding?"

Rotor pushed his spectacles up on in his face and leaned forward in his chair keeping his serious demeanor "…Because we can't understand it…"

Nicole looked slightly surprised and glanced over at Tails "You two cannot understand what's in the book?"

Tails nodded with a frown "That's how we know, because we can't understand it, and we know what we're doing when it comes to computers. Without going into too much detail, the reason we can even operate the New OS is because of you…"

Nicole looked back at Rotor as he spoke again "This is complicated beyond us, that's why we know it's an OOS coding book or manual. Your…coding was always too complicated for us to understand…you helped us with our own technology in the past. That's why I wanted to see if you could understand it better than us…." Rotor said with a curious face.

Nicole looked slightly baffled "What makes you think I can read it?" she placed a hand on her chest.

Rotor finally smirked "Let's just say you've done some things to yourself that make think you can. You remember when I told you about the few test we took six years ago? Well you've proven that to be right and more so; we'll be checking into that more today. "

Nicole held a skeptical face as she knew that there was something odd about her intelligence, something odd about herself and with the more she learned, the more she guessed to why her exceptional ability to learn had something she'd done to herself in her past. She noticed over the years how learning had come to her with ease. She knew that her ability to learn was not normal and way above average "…I will take the New OS manual with me…" she said holding her skeptical face.

Rotor smirked "Great." he said as he slid the book forward and Nicole put her degrees back into her folder and closed it; she placed the New OS manual on top of her folder "You know…we still can't operate the New OS like when…you helped us…"

Nicole frowned "How does this AI…the New OS…relate to me?" she asked with a tone of curiosity.

Rotor raised an eyebrow "You want to know more?"

Nicole nodded with a determined face "…Tell me more of my past…"

Rotor nodded and Tails spoke first "Well for starters the New OS can't act own its own like it used to, it can't counter hack own its own and other many things. That's why we still need a full staff of technicians because it still runs on manual commands." he said with a serious face.

Nicole looked slightly confused "An AI acting own its own? We had such a computer? How?"

Rotor and Tails gave her another wise look, and she sighed "…How is it possible that…I…did that?"

"We'd never seen anything like…you…before either…." Rotor said with a serious face.

Nicole nodded with a frown as she didn't think she could handle deviling into her past all at once "So how are you using the New OS? How do you code it if the OOS, which is the New OS, coding…my coding is to complicated?" Nicole shrugged asking in an almost curious tone.

Tails grinned a bit "The coding is too complicated, just like than manual we ripped from the OOS disc. But when you were…around before…you created a compiler that we still use today to create and program in our programming language for the New OS. Which is more like we're coding languages for our technology and the New OS deciphers our language, certainly not the other way around. We've never used New OS coding, only you did…"

Nicole dawned a curious face and looked at the two "When…I…was around…who created the programming? Who ran the city? Who did the programming for…me…and programming for your technology…" Nicole frowned again, placing a hand on her feeling a tad light headed.

Rotor frowned "Are you ok Nicole?"

Nicole nodded lowering her hand; still frowning "It is all much to sallow…I am fine…continue…"

Tails held a neutral expression as he continued "…We worked with you…but you did mostly all the work…" Tails counted on his fingers "You made all the programming for the city, all our technology, the nanites, just about everything…"

"Why?" Nicole questioned with a frown.

Tails looked at her seriously "Because you did it better…we stepped back and let you handle things…" Tails rubbed his chin "…You programmed all our languages, and you did you own coding…of yourself…"

"Does the New OS operate with any OOS code?" Nicole asked them both with a serious face.

This time Rotor spoke; he still frowned "No, when we reinstalled six years ago we were left were with a blank OS…just source code…" Rotor folded his claws together and placed them on his desk "We've always used our programing languages from our time because that's what we know. And since you left that's all we could use. We use our programming language to make our things through the New OS; otherwise we'd just be programming for regular computers. The New OS does not operate on any OOS code; you created just about all the code we use now. So everything programed into our stuff now is as strong as any other code nowadays." Rotor smirked "It all depends on how you write the code, and you know we write good code."

Nicole kept her frown though "I have seen some of your work." she looked at Tails and Rotor; Tails proudly grinned a bit.

And Rotor continued dawning a serious face again "Our code is slightly better though because of the New OS though."

At this Nicole looked confused again raising an eyebrow "Why is that? I thought you said you the New OS code was too complicated. And Rotor…what do you mean by 'our time'?"

Rotor smirked, and Tails smirked too as he spoke "It is, we use our language but…"

And Rotor and Tails went into a long meaty history of how in the last six years the New OS helped them make stronger code and much much more. They also mentioned briefly to her about how she was not from this time…but they saved that discussion for another time…

First they had found out, that just like when she used to be around, they had use of a super computer. Which the New OS was, and she used to be. And just like when she used to be around, they still had use of its mathematical modeling like all super computers. Using their programming language, they created stronger coding due the power of the New OS mathematical modeling. But there was a huge difference that had changed a lot of things in the last six years.

They hadn't spoken with Nicole much about how much stronger New Mobotropolis had become and all the far reaching effects of the mathematical modeling of the New OS. So they talked about it since she was back.

About how they had beaten Eggman and all their enemies back. About how Mobius had changed since she left, the Republic of Acorn and all their allies were now in better standing around Mobius than they used to be in the past. Nicole had studied some history, and she knew a little about what had been happening with New Mobotropolis as she discussed with Rotor over the phone while she was gone. So she grasped how much war they used to be in before compared to now even though she didn't remember much of the past or her own past…

But the reason why the world had changed so drastically was because of the mathematical modeling of the New OS. As they discovered, unlike when she was around, the mathematical modeling power was now unlimited. Every computer, even super computers of their time had limits. But Rotor and Tails had found the New OS, or what was Nicole's OOS did not….

The mathematical modeling of the New OS even had no limits when using their own programming language. And since she was not around anymore to stop them they had free reign. So after they found they could make their coding stronger, they began using the mathematical modeling of the New OS to create other things. The main one being new technology…

Before long they started creating very advanced technology. And the technology was very advanced for their time as they had never created such powerful weapons in the past to fight back against their enemies, and other powerful technologies that aided them in all other facets of their lives. But it didn't stop…

The mathematical modeling of the New OS continued to help them create things with variables that were astronomically impossible for them to comprehend but the New OS mathematical modeling limits never ended...

In the last six years, it got to the point with every piece of new technology they created, they found new was to make what they had previously had made stronger. Their technology and weapons had become so dangerous they had become unstoppable to their enemies…

And they started shipping it to all their allies, and they kept creating more and more powerful technology. Uninhibited with the New OS, New Mobotrolppis had changed and the world had changed monumentally in just the last six years…

They were able to make whatever they wanted…their technology had jumped farther and faster than any time in history…

And Nicole looked shocked and surprised by what they told her as they talked for close to thirty minutes. All these new things she had learned had only conjured up more questions for her. But at the end of the discussion though…she felt something was terribly off as she stared at Tails and Rotor holding proud faces with a frown on her face…

As they headlined it…they two alone were responsible for the recent monumental spur in technology over the last six years…

Nicole had a bad feeling in her gut and a deep frown on her face as she looked at Tails and Rotor "So New Mobotropolis has become immensely powerful, and our allies as well?"

Rotor nodded with a neutral face "We were left in a precarious situation after you left Nicole…we just did it to protect ourselves…"

Nicole's frown lightened a bit "And this mention of time…you are using technology not of this time? You said I'm…not from this time…" Nicole paused with a worried face "…Then that means the New OS, the OOS…you are using something not of this time to create technology…" Nicole had a disapproving look on her face.

Rotor blinked in surprise "You know…now that I think of it…I guess so..." Rotor shrugged.

Nicole looked down for a moment rubbing her chin "…I do not remember…but maybe we should not be using the New OS for that…that was without my consent…" Nicole looked up at them with a frown.

Then Tails frowned slightly "Well you had left…" and Nicole didn't like his tone as she frowned at him "You used to control the mathematical modeling and how we used it…but you weren't around…."

And Nicole felt uncomfortable from Tails tone and all the information she was learning about her past and the present. Nicole frowned as she could tell by the slight frowns on her friend's faces they were still upset about her leaving and what she had done in the past. And despite she was sitting here in front of them, they didn't care and couldn't care less about how they were using her technology. It was hers by definition as it used to be her…but she could see they were indifferent and upset because of what she had done and could not remember. And they used it as a justification for creating dangerous technology because they were upset at her.

Then suddenly at the entrance of the control room, the left side of the white wall crumbled to the floor and laid in pieces. Nicole whirled her around in confusion and Tails, and Rotor looked unfazed; the technicians glanced over at it unsurprised as well then turned back to their computers. Tails sighed as one of the technicians turned around in their seat and called over to Tails and Rotor "Do you want me to get that?" a brown female fox questioned.

Tails shook his head and sighed "No, don't worry I'll get it…" he said as he walked over to an empty computer on another side of the room.

Nicole stared at the crumbled wall momentarily before she turned to look at Rotor with a confused face "The nanites?" she questioned.

Rotor nodded with a serious face "Yes, we've had nanite problems after you left…" and Nicole frowned; Rotor dawned a sympathetic face "The microscopic robots you created; we talked about this few times but it's your first time seeing them. We can use the New OS to somewhat control the nanties and keep them under control but they are in a constant state of dysfunction…without the OOS…your coding and maintenance…we can't program them because it is too complicated…."

Then Nicole and Rotor looked back over at the spot where the wall had crumbled and the pieces began to move and crawl back to the wall and merge with it until the wall was normal again.

"Luckily the city isn't completely falling apart…" Rotor said with a frown leaning back in his chair.

Then Tails walked back over to Rotor's desk with a serious face "And that's because the coding you created for the nanties; we restored what you left behind to fix the city." Tails crossed his arms again.

Then Nicole looked over at Rotor as he spoke; he held a serious face "But without your input, they remain in a state on constant dysfunction. Their coding needs to be constantly updated like any other technology for bugs that regularly happen, but the nanties use the complicated coding of…you…so we can only keep them in a semi functional state with the coding you created."

Nicole frowned as Rotor continued "The entire city is made of nanites…you created them…"

And Tails nodded with a frown "We're just sort of use to their behavior now…"

"Has this caused any other damage?" Nicole asked them with a worried face.

And Rotor responded keeping his serious face "…Because of their malfunctions, there is wide-spread damage around the city on the daily basis…things just falling apart…"

Nicole felt a cold sweat come over her as Tails spoke looking at her with a frown "We built a whole network to detect nanite problems and maintain them. We do a lot, but our technicians help us with that plus running the city…"

"…I see…" Nicole stated with a deep frown "…as you just did a moment ago?"

Tails nodded with a serious face, and Nicole sighed feeling even worse than she did this morning. She kept her frown as she glanced at the two "I've never seen such technology…"

And Tails and Rotor dawned wise looks and spoke together "Neither have we…"

Rotor then got up from his seat "Except you…" he said with a serious face.

Nicole hid her pain behind her frown but inside she felt horrible…she didn't know what to say…

They looked at her just as Bunnie did this morning…as if they were looking at something else different than her…and they were…they were looking at her as they knew her before…which she unfortunately didn't remember…

And she wanted to change the subject…she had enough of her past for the time being "…About the program you were speaking of Rotor…" she said with a frown.

And Tails lost his serious face and blinked in surprise uncrossing his arms "Oh yea! You told her about the new coding we were working on?" he looked over at Rotor.

Rotor nodded; his face now neutral "Yes, we were working on a stronger update code. We're past the mathematical modeling stage, and we've just been trying to implement the code now. It's still got a few bugs…"

Tails then waved and motioned for Nicole to follow. She did, her face now neutral with Rotor right behind her to the main computer console; the one computer with the largest screen in the room.

Tails sat down first in front of the big screen and began typing with Rotor and Tails standing behind him "This particular program we're trying to get running as soon as possible. It's a sixty four bit security update. We're updating from a thirty two bit security system, and it took us quite some time to make that update even with the New OS." Tails said as the coding program popped up on the screen, and he began scrolling through it.

"...Ok…" Tails said scrolling down the code.

"What is its physical limit?" Nicole glanced over at Rotor with a slight frown.

"Ninety thousand GB's." Rotor responded still neutral "The New OS runs on a twenty thousand bit code that was created in the past…"

"Impressive… that is much farther beyond Central City's limits or more than I have ever heard." Nicole said nodding her head slowly; looking slightly impressed and partial to the information.

"Yeah, the possibility's….ok…." Tails said highlighting the code and pointing up at the screen "This part right here has a bug. When we run the test update it crashes." he said with a smirk glancing back at Nicole "You say you know about computers, you want to take a look?

And Nicole accepted his challenge; she still held a slight frown on her face "I know." she stated simply as Tails vacated his seat still smirking.

She could tell that Tails doubted her; maybe even Rotor too. She understood why there was doubt of her claims of intelligence as they were not normal. But she felt insulted that he doubted her computer skills; even doubted her at all. And feeling slighted and frustrated by Tails and Rotor because of their conversation and them being upset at her. Their doubts about her extraordinary claims of intelligence she understood, because they had not seen it, but it still upset her. And it upset her more because she realized she wasn't as closed to them as she remembered our currently thought…

Their dismissive and condescending demeanor made her upset though. She somewhat understood of their justifications of why they were upset, but it made her feel no less bad about it. They had changed into people that she feared…people she did not like…and it made her sad to see her friends change in such a way…

Though she had changed too and was confident about her abilities and herself now. She was going to show them and shut them up…

And she sat….

With a frown on her face she read over the section Tails had highlighted. Tails crossed his arms, and Rotor looked on in intrigue as they stood behind her and watched.

Just then a batch of technicians walked into the control room for their daily shift. They were also castle employees, and even though they didn't know exactly what happened to Nicole six years ago, because they worked at Castle Acorn and they were closer to her cover up than the citizens. There were still many castle employees who worked at the castle six years ago and they were there on the day…it…happened…

Coupled along with the fact that everyone knew who she was anyway, she was pillar to New Mobotropolis and when she left everyone noticed…

The technicians were in shock and awe seeing Nicole siting at the main console again...

The whole group of them stopped in their tracks but one of them went over to Rotor; a male monkey with gray fur held wide eyes; dressed in a white collar shirt and a red tie; no pants "Is…is that…...Nicole?" the technician inched out in a whisper.

Rotor glanced at the technician keeping his neutral face and nodded "Don't mind her and do not bother her." he looked seriously at the programmer; speaking in a lower voice.

Then the rest of the group of technicians making sure it was safe made their way over and gathered around Tails, Rotor, and her. Nicole read over the code one more time before she saved the current code and made a backup of the code. Then she promptly deleted the whole section of code that Tails had highlighted. Tails jaw dropped as she scrolled up and down the code deleting various sections of code and began rewriting them.

"What are you doing…." Tails said with wide eyes trying to keep his voice in check.

Nicole kept her eyes on the screen as she typed "These sections are not written well, they will not execute if the update is initiated. I see different ways to improve them." she said as she typed.

By this point the technicians that had gathered around where intrigued by what Nicole was doing with the code but they were also getting a good look at her. As Rotor could tell as a frown came over his face as his technicians looked on in disbelief at seeing Nicole. Then the other technicians on all the computers around the room had gotten interested when they heard Nicole's name mentioned a few times. They began looking away from their computer screens and glancing over at Rotor, Tails and the main computer console.

After seeing their shift team gathered around what they assumed to be the long-lost Nicole. They had seen her when they entered the room but said nothing thinking her appearance was just a coincidence. Thinking the female lynx was just someone who looked like Nicole but now they weren't so sure. And quickly one by one, all the rest of the technicians in the room left their computers and gathered around to get a look. The entire room was standing behind Nicole as they all quietly watched and got a glimpse of her…

And Tails dawned a serious face as Nicole rewrote the code. He knew for sure that the code was nearly flawless. At least he believed so as he had poured so much time into it he refused to believe otherwise.

Nicole kept her frown as she scrolled to the lowest section of the code and shook her head "This is wrong…." she deleted the whole bottom section and began rewriting it. She then scrolled to the top and read over it before deleted a huge chunk rewriting it and even adding more.

And Tails crossed his arms keeping a serious face as he watched Nicole rip their code apart. She reminded him how intimidating se could be…like in the past…

As he and he was sure Rotor saw, she was upset most likely about their conversation. And it was not necessarily anyone's fault. But multiple reasons of things that might have been upsetting to her because all that had happened was very complicated, and it was not just one person's fault. Nicole was no nonsense like she was when she was a machine…

Then as Nicole finishing typing she glanced over her shoulder, losing her frown seeing all the people behind her now, and her face became slightly curious looking at Tails "Is it ok for me to run a test?" she looked curiously at everyone staring at her with surprised faces.

Tails nodded uncrossing his arms with a serious face, and Nicole turned back around and ran a test of the sixty four bit security update and within moments it started and the program gave a success message on the screen. Tails brow was furrowed but he still looked impressed and Rotor looked surprised too by her knowledge. She had proved her knowledge of what she had said and they of felt silly for doubting her. The technicians clapped but it was eerily quiet as they did not congratulate her….

That was lost on Nicole though as she was just happy to prove herself and disprove others unjust judgment of her. Or so she thought because as she stood from her seat she took notice of all the technicians...staring at her…with afflicted eyes… bitter eyes…shocked faces…

But she kept her frown because she was already feeling bad since she entered the room. It became obvious as well that they didn't even care that she had finished the new security update and on her first try…

Again her face did not show it…but it hurt….

It was not hard to figure out that whatever she had done and could not remember had affected them just like everyone else. Nicole turned away from them and pushed her chair back into place and Rotor and Tails seeing the unwanted attention began shuffling them all away and making them go to their work. While they did that Nicole made her way back over to Rotors desk and Sierra and a few other scientist finally showed up; still sporting white lad coats. They all had smiled seeing Nicole in person again but as she turned around they looked confused as she didn't look to be in a talking mood with a frown on her face.

Rotor saw this and made his way across the room leaving Tails as head technician again "Alrighty, Nicole let's get started…." he said walking over to them all.

Nicole kept her frown as she gathered her papers and the New OS manual following them out of the room with Rotor. Though Sierra and the scientist where a bit quiet as they left the castle as there seemed to be a little tension. Nicole was their most interesting subject, but she had a frown on her face, and Rotor seemed to be a bit off put by something as well…

A few hours later a little distance from Castle Acorn, Nicole, Rotor, Sierra, and the scientist made their way back to, what was for Nicole because she didn't remember, the rebuilt K-College school building. On the lower floors in white hallways, in the last room on the right a scientist pulled the last electrocardiography sensor off of Nicole's forehead and wheeled the machine away from her.

The room they were in was lit by on a few lights with many flashing computers, and mechanical noises. Nicole remained quiet holding a slight frown as the scientist around her feverishly analyzed the data that they had gathered from her to compare it with the data of when she was younger; she had calmed down a bit since leaving the castle. It was still all…a bit much to take in…

Sierra and Rotor sat across the table from her reading over big computer printout sheets of her neural activity. They had done many physical test on her, scanning her with many different types of machines. For a little while now they had jumped into even more serious matters concerning her than they had even been discussing at the castle. This time it was directly about her…

Mainly being her past and where she even came from…

And she pressed forward wanting to unravel more of her past…even if deep down some part of her didn't want to…

But she felt was time; she had grown and was now ready to face life…

She had learned, with gut wrenching effects…that she was not born normally…

She had learned how she was born…she….she…had made…herself…

Her body was cloned….

And Nicole remained quiet, keeping her frown staring at Rotor and Sierra as they read overs their paper readouts. She could barely process that piece of information. She still felt faint…

And she had no parents….

She let out a shuttered breathe as she prepared herself for more because it was not over. There was more information about her body….and the one thing about her past that held great significance over all aspects of her…

"You've certainly grown into a fine young woman…" Sierra looked up from her papers holding a neutral expression "We never had time before you left as the city was more or less in shambles, to perform our test. We had been wondering how you cloned your body…not exactly what you did because we were there when you did it and know some of the things you did…but more so why your body is so different…that would be the only way for…you…in particular to do such a thing…"

Nicole frowned "You have found it?" she questioned.

Sierra kept her neutral expression "You still have traces of the DNA from the Lynx you created your body from…however you acquired it…" Sierra looked down at her papers again "We still don't exactly how you went about doing it…but we have found her…" Sierra looked up at her with a curious face.

Nicole kept her slight frown but looked curious as well "…You have…." Nicole paused with a bit of caution in her voice "How did you find her so quickly? You have only studied me for a few hours."

Sierra shook her head and gave her a gentle smile "We found her a week ago. We began searching because you were coming back. We stopped our research by your request. Everything pertaining to you had been shut down by your request." Sierra took off her glasses and looked Nicole seriously in the eyes; Nicole stared back at her equally "I know it may not seem so, but we are listening to you…you are still her…"

Nicole frowned even more as she continued and Rotor looked up from his papers "There are things in your way now that do marginalize you, but you are not completely powerless in your life…"

Sierra put her glasses back on, and Rotor spoke up with a serious face "Everything about you has restarted in your return Nicole…and it's complicated…"

"Does she…live in the city?" Nicole asked them both with a frown.

The other scientist in the room began gathering in seats near the table as they finished their work and Rotor spoke again; his face serious "Yes she still lives here in new Mobotropolis…but the strange thing is…you don't look too much at all like the lynx you took your DNA from…"

The scientist around them whispered to one another and despite Nicole's own confused face, Rotor and Sierra looked just as confused "…What…" Nicole inched out with a raised eyebrow; she felt surrealism wash over her again.

Sierra nodded, and Rotor spoke with a curious face "We said the same thing. We're not sure how it's possible either…"

"I wonder...how did you change the physical appearance of your body so drastically...it is a feat for your appearance to be so different…it is strange...your cloned DNA should have been the same..." she briefly looked down at her papers then back at Nicole "...I can only think...that must have meant you alerted your DNA...to change things...because you look nothing like the lynx you got your DNA from..." Sierra sat her papers down completely staring at Nicole with intrigue.

Nicole's mind ran wild, and she held a worried face as a bizarre realization came to her; she looked at Rotor and Sierra strangely "If I altered my DNA to change my appearance….who did I change it to look like?" she asked fearing the answer.

Then they all look at her with intrigue, and she realized very quickly she changed to the DNA to look like herself...or what she used to be...or her perceived self…

She had alerted her body to what she looked like now to look like herself…

So what she looked now was her true appearance…

How she always looked to everyone around her and what everyone who had been looking at her today saw...a past version of herself she didn't remember…

She had modeled her body to look…just like herself…

So how she looked right now is how she looked in the past….this is what she looked like…

As they all looked at her she felt the strange sense again they were not currently looking at her as she was now, but they, like Bunnie, were looking at something else…

Nicole's frown deepened because of her past, they looked at as her computer self, and unfortunately she had just found out her appearance was exactly that of her past….

So when everybody saw her appearance it only reinforced…everything…

"…My appearance is based off of my holographic form?" Nicole questioned with a frown.

Sierra blinked in surprise "You know of that?"

Rotor nodded with a serious face "We've discussed something's…"

"And I have learned much since returning…" Nicole said keeping her frown.

"…You were….formless…for a time…" Rotor said with a serious expression.

At that piece of information Nicole dipped her head slightly, closing her eyes, and sighed. The last piece of information was a bit much for her as everyone could see. So it remained quiet for a moment before Nicole opened her eyes and looked back at Sierra and Rotor keeping her frown.

Nicole remained silent as Sierra reached over to her right and grabbed a clear plastic folder with a white envelope inside; her expression neutral "…We have pictures of her…" Sierra looked to be ready to reach inside and grab them.

But Nicole quickly shook her head with a frown "…I would rather not…"

And Sierra nodded with a sympathetic face as she hesitantly pushed the folder away from herself. Nicole placed her hands on her lap still looking upset; she raised an eyebrow in curiosity "She is unaware?" she questioned Rotor and Sierra.

Rotor nodded "She doesn't know." he stated simply.

Nicole sighed placing a hand on her head "…." she remained silent keeping her upset face.

Then Rotor spoke again "You are one of a kind Nicole…you are not like anything on Mobius we have ever seen…well other than you in the past…"

Nicole removed her hand from her head still feeling a bit faint, looking at Sierra, Rotor, and the other scientist around her as Sierra spoke with a neutral expression "Your mind is of no comparison. Your brain patterns are not matching anything we have ever seen. Along with the DVDs you left…" she paused "…I'm afraid we've only touched the tip of the ice berg of what's happening with you Nicole…"

Sierra looked to Rotor, and he spoke with a serious face. The whole tone of the room became even more serious and Rotor pushed his glasses up onto his nose "We wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you Nicole. And to your respect no one has seen or heard of the DVDs. Other than you, I am the only who has seen some of the DVDs. But things are changing again, rumors are being spread around, and some people we don't like are resurfacing because of it. We even have problems showing up in New Mobotropolis because of your past actions. Everything revolving around you has far reaching effects unfortunately…"

Nicole nodded, and Rotor did his best to be delicate as he spoke to her "By your respect Nicole, we all ask your permission to discuss the information you have left." Rotor said not taking his eyes off her.

The scientist in the room all sitting around her stared at her silently through glasses hidden by the light reflecting off of them. Everyone was looking at her, and she stared at back Rotor and Sierra as her face became determined "…Yes…it is time…." she stated.

The room was quiet with her answer "This information could be disastrous for Mobius if what you've said is true…" Sierra said with curiosity to Rotor; he nodded seriously.

The scientist lowly mumbled to each other, and Nicole was conflicted about her statement. Sierra shifted in her seat "Rotor has shown me a few papers you have brought. I am surprised you have exceled past the learning abilities we had previously calculated...which brings us to why?" she said in a curious tone.

Rotor cleared his throat "…Hmmmm…I wouldn't call this a theory like I had in the past since I can finally fully delve into the subject." Rotor pushed the papers in front of him aside.

A female raccoon whispered to another scientist near Nicole "This is history in the making."

Though Nicole kept her attention on Rotor as he spoke "After looking over the papers you have brought I am surprised too but…" he raised a claw "...thanks to all the work of these talented scientist we have pieced together how you went about creating yourself." Rotor said leaning forward in his seat.

Nicole was doing her best to digest the information, her face still a frown, she remained quiet and Rotor continued "As I have only told you Nicole, what I'm saying here right now with everyone here, I'm going to limit some of what I say because it relates to what we're discussing today."

The scientist and Sierra all nodded and silent agreement and Rotor took a short pause because the information he was about to reveal was heavy "Nicole….you designed your body after…" he looked Nicole seriously in the eyes, and she stared back at him with her frown "….your creators….." he finished.

At this Nicole kept her upset face but she immediately looked confused as he continued "…Not only your creator's…but the people of the future…..and not the people of our future here...but the future of an alternate time of ours…." Rotor said as calmly as he could.

The room became deafly silent as Nicole held her confused face remaining silent as Rotor continued on; the scientist and Sierra looked at Rotor intrigued "...I don't not know how far into the future but your creator's mentioned a time span of peace for about six thousand years. One of your creators said they existed in a time that was possible for you to be created Nicole on the DVDs. And yes I know you are not aware of how powerful you were but that brings me to my next point." Rotor said adjusting his glasses again "The people of that time line were genetically evolved. Your creators said that also…."

Nicole lost her upset face looking completely confused now; she inched out her words "…I have…two creators?"

Rotor shook his head "No just the one…"

The scientist all mumbled to each other, and Sierra looked bemused "But you said creators…" she stressed the s; totally engrossed by what Rotor was saying "And what do you mean future? Are you talking about time travel?"

Rotor stayed serious though glancing over at Sierra "I can't say Sierra, myself and the other Freedom Fighters are the only ones who know of that particular subject and the only ones who talk about it among ourselves. Including Nicole…" he looked back at her who was frowning again "And just like the information I've been talking about, that information could be dangerous so for now it will remain a secret…I'm sure I can trust you all with half information…" Rotor looked around at all the scientist with a wise look.

And they all nodded fervently then Rotor continued talking "…As I said…I can't say for now…but Nicole's creators are one in the same…." Rotor said as he got more confused faces from everyone around him; he continued looking at Nicole again who still frowned "…I believe you designed your body to that of a genetically evolved being of the alternate future you claimed you came from; the one I've seen on your DVDs. You're learning ability is advanced beyond anything living thing we've ever seen…so you can see the correlation between your intelligence and the how you might have gone about creating your body. The results don't lie." Rotor said leaning back in his chair as his expression became neutral.

Nicole frowned again and yet again she felt lighted headed breaking her eyes away from Rotor and Sierra staring down at the table in front of her. There was a long pause before she broke the silence of the room "I am from the future..." she said in a disbelieving tone.

"…We'll get into how you created your body….and why you can't remember anything another time…" Sierra said with a neural face.

Rotor's expression was neutral too "…Your mental health because of what you did is why you have amnesia, and your memories might be scattered…" Rotor scratched his nose with his claw "…Your mental stability and health are a bit more concerning than your physical health as that is fine. But after what you did we still don't know what side effects could occur…."

Nicole looked up from the table keeping her frown looking at Rotor and Sierra "…I will handle my personal issues in time….but for now I must acquire more information to understand what has happened…what I have done…" she said in a grim cold tone.

Then the room became silent again until Rotor spoke up; his face suddenly astonished as he looked at her "It's like you haven't even left..."

Nicole glanced at the bewildered faces of everyone around her with a frown on her face feeling terrible at the moment at all the information she had just taken in. And didn't know how much more she could handle today. Their glasses reflecting off of the flashing lights in the room made her more self-aware as they knew her past, and she did not. Her frown deepened as it seemed what she knew of her history now had been mostly good for her and not anyone around her.

Sometime later across town, Sally had exited a small community building with haste; the glass door behind her shut; making her way down onto the slightly crowed sidewalks. It was getting on later in the day and the barely visible sun that peeked through the clouds of the day showed it was getting low in the sky, though it was still light out but still sort of grey out. She had a smile on her face even after another excruciating long meeting; she was late for meeting Sonic in the business district. After talking and hanging with Sonic, Amy, and Rotor yesterday, it marked the first time in years she had interacted with Sonic outside of business since their breakup. It was their first personal interaction in a long time, and she could say with confidence that Sonic had responded to her well…

Which made Sally smile as she hurried to meet with Sonic, walking at a quickened pace. It was awkward at first as she walked with him to Amy's house yesterday; they were all alone together. But the ice was broken as it was clear they accepted their breakup and their past history, and they talked as friends…but she had other plans…

Even though they had been doing well as friends…she wanted him back…

And so far things were looking ok…

That's why she smiled as she came to an impasse on the sidewalk she went to her to her right to her right, passing by a neighborhood to the business district full of buildings, with long winding streets full of people just down the way. Knowing she was going the right way as there were more people she passed by the closer she got; it was really busy.

As she began walking through thicker crowds she dawned a slight smile as the fallout of Nicole was still a hot button issue for her running through her mind lately as they waited for her return, and now that she was back. She had been getting letters already, and she was getting ready to defend Nicole the best she could in the next few days…

She looked around for the computer store they had decided to meet up at. She hoped he hadn't left because she was a little late as she maneuvered through the crowds of people. She had been even busier lately because of the upcoming Thanksgiving Festival. They've been getting bigger and bigger every year….

Sally sighed mentally with a wise look on her face as she bumped past citizens with mountains of bags and gifts in their arms. She scooted around a male bear holding to many gifts when her eyes quickly caught sight of the computer store she was looking for.

She smiled as she moved through the busy and noisy crowds of people but she didn't walk inside though. Instead she looked inside through the glass but didn't see who she was looking for. Just a few other customers...

She frowned a bit as only had a few minutes to chat before she had to head off to another meeting. She sighed as she walked over and opened the door to the store and walked inside; there was an electronic beep as she opened the door. The sales representative nearby jumped in surprise seeing Sally; when she went into public people would still recognize her.

The female cat with yellow fur hastily approached Sally "Princess. What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for a friend of mine…" Sally said as her smile returned.

The rep pointed to the back of the store knowing who she was looking for "You are in luck princess, Sonic just walked in if that's who you were looking for."

"I wondered if he had shown up." Sally glanced to the back of the store still not seeing him; she glanced back at the sales rep before she walked off "Thank you." Sally said leaving the awe struck rep.

Sally smirked as the sales rep watched her walk away, though she cautiously walked to the back of the store and found Sonic hunched over a rack of laptops. He didn't even notice that anyone was even behind him. Tentatively she spoke up "Hey..." her voice was small, and she held a weak smile.

Sonic turned his attention away from the computers and grinned "What took you so long?" he said looking back at the laptops.

Sally chuckled slightly "You know my work load has increased."

"What have you been up to all day?" he asked still looking at the laptops on the shelf in front of him.

"It was like I was saying earlier, I only have a few minutes to chat before I head to some more business meetings, and I wanted to know if you are you having a guest with you at the Thanksgiving Festival Dinner? There's going to be group based events." Sally said with smile.

Sonic shook his head glancing sat her with a curious face "Was that just added?"

Sally ran a hand through her hair and nodded with a smile "As a matter of fact they were this year. The community's around New Mobotropolis have all agreed on it."

Sonic cringed "Oh man, if Amy finds out about that I'm gonna be in trouble." his expression became neutral as Sally giggled "I was just going to hang out with whoever, so no I don't have a guest." he shrugged; they could hear another electronic beep from the entrance of the store.

Not wanting to test the waters too much, Sally deiced not to ask Sonic to be her guest at the dinner. Instead she lost her smile noticing the time on the stores clock that hung from a wall just above them; it was five ten and she had to get going. She smiled again as she looked at Sonic "I have to get going Sonic. I will see you later?" she questioned with a smirk and slight hesitation.

Sonic nodded with a grin "Yea, I'll see you around."

Sally smiled back at him but didn't get a chance to leave as two patrons stepped into view. Sonic and Sally looked behind themselves curiously to see Nicole and Rotor walk up from an aisle behind them with Rotor holding a neutral expression and Nicole holding a slight frown but looking slightly surprised when they saw them.

Though Sally saw Nicole's eyes immediately on Sonic, and she frowned a bit as Nicole spoke dawning a smile "Hello, Sally, Sonic. It is odd running into you here." she held a book and a folder full of papers under her arm.

Rotor kept his neutral face "Hey guys." he waved briefly.

Then suddenly a piece of the store's ceiling fell to the floor and broke into pieces nearby them before it quickly began crawling back the nearest wall, and the ceiling began reassembling itself. Sally, Sonic, and Rotor looked unfazed but Nicole still was not used to the nanites issues.

Sally returned her attention to them "What are you guys doing here?" Sally asked slightly surprised.

Nicole held a weak smile "Rotor has the inside tips on computer deals. I require a laptop for my new job as a Freedom Fighter." she said with less than noticeable enthusiasm.

Sonic grinned standing up from his hunched position and turning to Rotor and her "Congratulations Nicole."

"Nicole is going to be working with us again…." Rotor briefly patted her on the shoulder with a slight smile but looked questioningly at Sonic "You're looking for a computer Sonic?" he asked him curiously.

Sally interjected "I have to get going." she said losing her surprised face and looking slightly stern looking at Nicole "Speaking of work Nicole. I will need to see you in my office tomorrow, you to Rotor. We all have serious business to discuss." Sally said seriously.

Nicole blinked her eyes curiously and silently nodded as Sally said goodbye to everyone and hastily exited the store. At that though Nicole quickly turned her attention to Sonic dawning a smile again "I will help you Sonic." she asked with a bit of eagerness in her voice.

Rotor took notice of this and grinned for the first time in a long time today and Sonic looked suddenly sheepish at Nicole's obvious advances. Rotor made a catcall, making a low whistle and chuckling.

But Nicole turned to Rotor not losing her smile or being deterred in any way. She thought for a moment and turned back around to Sonic; turning away from Rotor closing her eyes "Rotor I gave you permission to speak of my information, now I give you permission to watch the DVDs again..."

She waited for a moment but she got no response and she opened her eyes in confusion and turned around as she heard the store's door opening beep "Rotor?" she looked around but he was gone "Did he…." Nicole blinked in confusion.

"I've never seen Rotor move so fast." Sonic said blinking his eyes with a curious look.

But Nicole quickly dawned a smile "I am capable of finding our computers." Nicole said giving Sonic her attention, and he grinned as she walked next to him. She pointed to the computers specs, on a label, on a laptop sitting on a shelf in front of them; her face became slightly serious "Now look Sonic. These few lines of information will be the most important things to know when purchasing a computer."

Sonic looked confused "What does GB mean?"

"Gigabyte." Nicole said glancing over at him; her face neutral.

"The what?" Sonic asked scratching his head.

Nicole blinked her eyes before she let out a soft laugh, the first Sonic had ever seen of her since her return. She laughed at Sonic's ignorance of such technology that was vital to everyday life. Sonic sweat dropped feeling embarrassed grinning. Nicole and Sonic spent over an hour in the store until Nicole found them the best of the best laptops, and she also found an excuse to invite him over to her house.

In a few minute's time on the south side of town, Rotor had rushed home and slammed his door shut. He turned on the lights in his living room out of breathe and moving over to his desktop computer sitting in the corner of his living room and turning on it on; his desktop computer sat on a fancy wooden desk. He then walked over the pile of three hundred twenty DVDs and picked up small piles one by one, skimming through them finding the ones had stopped at years ago.

Once he found the DVD two hundred seventy, he took that and its pile, and he sat back down at his desktop and inserted a DVD out of the pile; DVD two hundred seventy one. As the drive spun he held a face full of anticipation, eager to get back to where he left off before the attack on the city six years ago.

It was cloudy in his mind, but he stopped watching after seeing Nicole fall in love with Sonic in whatever sense a computer or machine could. He had been infinitely curious as to how Nicole had fared after being returned to her body. His theory on that hadn't changed either too….

He was the only one because of what he had seen on the DVDs, who really knew why Nicole had done what she did six years ago…had had not discussed much with the others of what he had seen…

And what she did six years ago he didn't think was the whole reason….there was still the whole business of the future which he was just a curious to know about still too…

But part of the reason she did what she did, was because after her body switch with Sally she felt emotion for the first time, and she fell for Sonic. Which subsequently was certainly part of the reason why she had gone into the process of creating a body, creating all the plans she had, and doing everything she had done unbeknownst to anyone's knowledge for many years. So he knew watching these DVDs again he would finally see Nicole in the verge of losing her mind because she could not feel...

(The computer screen)

The DVD started off just where about where he left off. It was some time after Nicole's experience in Sally's body and Rotor watched as Nicole's sanity spiraled more as the days went on not being able to feel. Rotor remembered how on the previous DVD she talked about New Mobotropolis for the first time. He was now seeing the dots connect as to why Nicole had come up with such amazing technology over the years, gathering resources to ultimately feel the emotion of love for Sonic again. Nicole had never mentioned anything like New Mobotropolis before she switched bodies with Sally. Nicole had always assisted them in creating or improving existing technologies but never letting them see any tech from the future...that is until a week before New Mobotropolis was created…

He watched her that week; multiple times try to switch bodies with Sally again, again, and again...

Rotor was to say the least intrigued by Nicole's growing insanity at being unable to express feelings because she was a machine and her body didn't allow her to do such things…

And for her to even be able to feel at all was still startling…

Though it made sense as she had revealed that her motherboard was made of organic compounds, and she did have a life force because of it. But none the less…it was still odd that a machine experienced the chemical reactions the induced the feeling of emotion and then proceeded to remember it…

He figured that she shouldn't be able to do such a thing…machines couldn't feel…

But he had to push his own logical basis out of his mind…because it had happened…and Nicole wasn't just any old machine…

She had a soul…

So she could feel…

Seeing Nicole try and switch bodies with Sally was disturbing to say the least because she didn't stop. Every few days she attempted it and failed. Rotor watched the computer screen, watching Nicole set up scenarios with the limited movement of her hand held form, execute her plans, initiate the experimental code, and fail. She did this many times and by the end of the week Nicole gave up again and instead worked on gathering resources to create a nannite to create more nanites to create New Mobotropolis.

And it was just as he thought before when he stopped watching the DVDs, Nicole had not created New Mobotropolis only help the, but she had made the city for her own purposes…

And she began acting out of her own self-interest…while at the same time still helping them…

One day though in one of the Freedom Fighters underground bases in the Knothole when it still stood, Sally had gathered everyone and told them of Nicole's new plan for a place to live. From what Rotor could see the Freedom Fighters were all gathered around a table with papers strewn all over it in a semi dark room lit by one light; Nicole's screen moved up and down as she spoke; Sally was holding her "Ok, now that everyone is here we can get started. Nicole has come up with an idea." Sally held Nicole up so everyone could hear her.

Her screen faced all the Freedom Fighters when they were all a little younger looking curiously at her "As I have mentioned before. I was programmed not to interfere with this times technology. I cannot give you information from my time to help you. But by the rate of things we will not last much longer under the threat off Eggman. That being said, if I can create a nanite I will be able to forge a city used in war times from my time."

The Freedom Fighters gasped in awe looking on in disbelief "We would have a permanent place to stay?" Tails asked her with slight excitement on his face.

"Correct. But I do not have the resources to do so. Eggman does." Nicole responded to them.

Sonic grinned "So we go bust up Eggmans place and get you what you need."

Rotor watched his past self-become weary of Nicole plans "But if you're creating technology based off your time aren't you still making technology from your time?" Rotor asked confused by Nicole's logic.

"Yes and no. I am bending the rules to help you." Nicole stated.

"But uhhh..."Rotor was cut off by Antoine.

"We don't have a choice, in a year's time we're going to be out of resources." Antoine said excited about Nicole's plan.

"Then it's settled. Just tell us what you need Nicole." Sally said smiling along with the others; Rotor's past self was not.

It was then Rotor saw Nicole in the span of the next few DVDs he put in...Nicole becoming...insane...

Completely obsessed with wanting a body…

New Mobotropolis was just the first step in a long line of plans to gather resources to clone a body. They had gathered what Nicole had needed over the next few days. Nicole even by her standards worked harder than Rotor had ever seen her work too, working day and night to complete the design of the nanties. Once she did, that nanite created more until there were billions of the little robots.

A few months passed in the days of the Knothole on the DVDs when Rotor recognized it was the night before New Mobotropolis was created, and Eggman had attacked the next day as Nicole tried to create New Mobotropolis. That night Nicole spoke to herself like she had every night since her body switch with Sally. Nicole was becoming desperate as the days passed by…

She kept repeating to herself about the experience in Sally's body, trying to recall the experience to no avail…

She couldn't feel….

She just kept talking….

Trying to rationalize the euphoric state she encountered and to be honest it was starting to get repetitive. Then...

(In Rotors room)

Rotor paused the DVD and leaned back in his chair with a contemplative face realizing he was a hypocrite…

It jumped out at him…

As he was doing right now what he questioned Nicole for in the past. But he frowned as he stared at his computer screen's paused video. He knew there was basis in his logic but…he felt his reason for using the dangerous technology from the future was justified…

Despite all the warning's from Nicole and even now today seeing how dangerous the technology they had created from the New OS was. He still had his reservations about using it…

But…even it was dangerous…he felt it was forced into their hands when Nicole left…

So they used it to protect themselves…

But even with those thoughts he got bad feeling in his gut knowing the technology was unlike anything they had ever created. It was technology not of this time…

But since they were already in the mist of it there was no turning back. They had survived without her help even though it was only made possible because of her. He was still a bit upset a Nicole too. Because of her absence his workload had increased tenfold and stayed that way sine she left…

A lot of people were upset at Nicole to for leaving still too…

So they were all less inclined to care how he used her technology because she left them in a bad position. And at the same time, if it wasn't for her they would not have the city. They wouldn't have anything…

Eggman would have surely destroyed them…

Rotor could see the hard reflection of his face of his computer screen…knowing to he had also become apathetic about others…

And he had become more apathetic to Nicole because of her past actions as well….

Nicole losing her mind was only one part of this complicated puzzle he knew he hadn't figured out yet. He remembered the DVDs he watched in the past of Nicole's future. He saw her birth and her getting sent to this time and many things in-between. He was sure to delve back into the future times of her memories to figure everything out. Because it had always been a mystery as to why she had even been sent back in the first place.

Admittedly he had gotten away from those details and why Nicole had been sent back recently; focused on his own life. He had sort of pushed it to the back of his mind and figured why she had been sent back was not too much of a big deal as so far there didn't look to be any damaging effects as far as he could see…

The reasons why she had been sent back had become an optional matter and not pressing to him and something he thought he figure out later because everything was going fine for them now…

He knew with certainty that there was something important about it though; he wasn't completely dismissive of it; far from it. He had seen Nicole's creator Arien send her back because the technology in the future had gotten out of control. So much to the point where the people of the future botched time travel and messed up the time stream causing mass chaos…

And Rotor had a bad feeling in his gut that he ignored…surely he didn't think the same would happen to them…

With them right now creating technology that was only growing faster and faster…and they didn't know how far the technology would grow…

That was the reason she was sent back for sure…to help them stop Eggman…

But simply for the fact that he hadn't seen all the DVDs yet, he reserved his judgment for if that was the exact reason she was sent back. He didn't like making decisions until he had all the information. So his current guess was that she was sent back because in the future technology got out of hand, and it allowed Eggman to take over because of tampering with time traveling technology…

It wasn't the same….was it….

But he ignored his gut feeling…as far he was concerned they were doing alright and nothing else mattered…

Nicole being from the future had seemed to get away from everyone…as everyone had become super apathetic in their comfortable lives now that things had gotten better…

But he was going to look into it all now that he had access the DVDs again. So he leaned back in his chair before he continued watching the DVDs pondering all that had come of Nicole's actions and now of his own…

Meanwhile on the east side of town it had just turned six p.m., and it was starting to get dark outside. Inside Nicole's house a tall lamp dimly lit her living room; it was set on dim. Nicole's violet-colored couch had big poufy pillows, and a round straw rug sat on the floor in front of the couch along with her square wooden coffee table. On the mahogany table in front of the couch, her laptop lay next to the New OS manual. On the wall in front of her couch, her flat TV sat on top of a wooden TV stand; her television was on set to a low volume.

Nicole herself was in the kitchen preparing a sweet drink for Sonic's arrival. She came out of her kitchen, switching off the lights with two glasses with red colored liquids and sat them on the table in her living room. She then took a seat plopping down onto her couch with a sigh after such a busy day. Glancing briefly at the TV she held a somewhat neutral expression, she frowned slightly and was uninterested in the evening news. Then she reached forward and grabbed her laptop, flipped it open, and turned it on and watched it as it began to boot on her table.

Her expression became fully neutral as she reached forward and picked up the New OS manual, placed it on her lap, and flipped it open and began to read the first sections of it.

Sonic had returned to his home retrieve a notebook; he had quick reference notes in it for learning basics about computers, although Nicole doubted Sonic had got very far along learning much for the lack of knowledge she saw he already had. She had invited Sonic over to teach him more about computers since he didn't know much about them. Convincing him that she would be able to teach him in a way that he would understand since she found out Rotor got frustrated sometimes by Sonic's lack of progress. She also knew that he knew she was making advances towards him again…

And to her delight he didn't seem opposed to the idea at all…in fact he went along with all her flirting…

A small smile came across her face, and she felt a bit of heat rush to her cheeks…

He made the bad day she was having somewhat good…she hoped more could become of them…

As it need not be said there was a strain in her relations with the Freedom Fighters…her friends…

She thought it would have lessened in her time away but it seemed even more so. After her conversations today…there was a tension she felt between Rotor and herself now…

And she felt distance from the other Freedom Fighters as well…she had tried to live a normal life…be closer to her friends…

But she was quickly seeing that her life was not going that way, and her friends had gone on their own ways on their lives…they had moved on without her…

And she knew she shouldn't expect much considering the circumstances, and she was right. She just couldn't live a normal life after what happened…

But Sonic…

He was her only friend who she remained close with. She had gotten to know him over the years as she grew and conversed with him over the phone. She had expected Sonic to move on without her too. She thought he would be just as upset at her about her past actions as everyone else. And he had openly expressed that he didn't like what she did either. It really wasn't an issue about forgiveness as it had already happened and everyone showed how they felt through their actions. That being the other Freedom Fighters were less involved with her because she had negatively impacted their lives. But he continued keeping an eye on her. He was persistent, and it showed that he was a true friend…

Even though he disapproved of what she did, he told her that she knew she didn't do it intentionally. So though their might have been a little left unsaid between them Sonic, and she remained close…

And she liked him even more for it…

So even more so now, Sonic and she were close friends. He seemed to be the only one who had her back at the moment, and she was grateful…

Sometimes she didn't know why he continued to help her…wondering why he hadn't changed like the others…

But she realized that was just who he was…and his virtuous nature made it clear his intentions were true in staying by her side…

As she had gathered from the others over the years when she asked about him….he had always been that way…

And now that she was back she hoped to get to know him more personally…

He stayed by her when the world walked out, and he walked in alone…when bad things happened he went against what everyone said he took his own action…

And though she sought…more…him befriending her was an act that left a warm spot across her heart…

Nicole kept her smile thinking of the laptops she had purchased for Sonic and herself as she read the New OS manual. She had been a bit skeptical of SMD processors as of late because they had the same processing power as an Inside 7. She just preferred Insides performance better and Sonic said his desktop used a thirty two bit OS. She made sure to get a sixty four bit OS as he was a piece of work that she knew would be hard to teach; though she didn't mind his company at all...

Then she frowned slightly as she placed the New OS manual on her lap as she finished skimming through the first section. To her surprise it was hard to understand. But she smirked; it was challenging. Her ears perked up at the challenge.

She didn't mean to brag but this had to have been the first type of information that was hard for her to decipher since everything thing else had been relatively easy. And as she said before was strange that all she had learned in her life had come to easy…

It also made her realize if she was able to understand this manual, it confirmed how advanced she was…that she created her own body…and her past would be cemented even further as real…

Because she was still having a hard time accepting it…

So she lost her smile, and her face became serious feeling bad about her past, and because she focused on reading through the first chapter of the New OS manual. But as she skimmed through the introduction chapter it still was not clear to her.

She then flipped to the index in the back of the book and found a section on the coding terms and functions of the New OS. Skipping to a random chapter she saw that a theoretical infinite amount of bits could be programmed into the New OS so long as the hardware was there. And since New Mobotropolis had a limit of twenty thousand bits she figured the possibilities of such a system made all other OS not on the same level. Which they probably weren't as she could see as New Mobotropolis became so powerful.

As Tails had said earlier, the New OS uses a compiler to decipher their language, not the other way around. Their current languages…of this time…couldn't communicate with the OOS coding. But the OOS coding could communicate with theirs...

She frowned as she understood that the moment Tails had said it. It was the sole reason they were so much stronger as other computers could not interface with the New OS but it could interface with theirs…

Nothing could stop it because nothing could communicate with it…

It was also why it dominated other OS's because current OS's couldn't come close to decoding that amount of data. Nicole then placed the manual on her table and picked up her laptop with ideas running through her head.

Feeling a bit lazy, she didn't want to go back out to the store and buy the many software programs she would need to create a program that would be able to code for the New OS so she torrented them; internet had been installed before she came back and she had a Wi-Fi connection directly from the New OS. Once she got the basics of the alphabets, terms, and functions down pack she knew she would be able to make a basic program to code for the New OS. It was just a matter of transferring terms into the new program.

Her living room was quiet with the low sound of TV as she started downloading the torrents then her doorbell rang. Her face neutral, she placed her laptop down and went to answer the door.

It was Sonic "Yo." he grinned with his laptop, laptop power cable, and paper notebook in hand.

Nicole quickly dawned a fond smirk "Welcome back Sonic." she stepped aside.

Sonic stepped in and seeing her open laptop walked over to her couch. Plugging in his laptop in a nearby outlet and sitting down and turning it on; Nicole closed her door and joined him on the couch. She looked at her laptop on the table seeing the download progress on her downloads; they were nowhere near done and Sonic's computer was starting; she smiled "The first thing you should know Sonic is that a sixty four bit OS is not radically different from a thirty two bit OS. Though take note that it does have better performance." she said placing her hands on her lap and slightly leaning over to look at his computer.

Sonic looked surprised at his laptop sitting on his lap "It's done loading already! That was fast." he glanced curiously over at her "Say Nicole, what other hobbies do you have? Did you make any close friends at Central City?"

Nicole's smile became weak "…My jobs and work were my main hobbies. I have no friends from Central City…" she paused "But I do very much enjoy my hobbies in technology. I know many things pertaining to computers and used to write software programs for one of my jobs. I am creating a software program from scratch right now as a matter of fact." she smiled weakly.

Sonic double clicked on his internet browser "Did you go out?" he looked at his screen seeing how fast his new computer was loading.

"I did but I stopped going out as much." Nicole said leaning forward and picking up the New OS manual.

"You get tired of idiotic people?" Sonic asked typing into a search engine with a slight chuckle.

Nicole smirked "You could say that." she said flipping a few pages of the manual.

Sonic looked up from his laptop and grinned "You certainly have the charisma; I know you've got a few stories to tell."

Nicole spoke with a gentle smile as she continued reading the manual as recalled a date she went out on once...

(Flashback)

A few years ago I had a job at a computer engineering firm where we designed more efficient motherboards for big computer companies. I operated a machine that placed the microchips onto the motherboards. I found the work to be very interesting, and I learned a lot about computers there. There was a guy there named Rob; he was also a Lynx. He ran a machine that soldered the printed circuit board to surface mounted devices. He perused me as did other males in the facility. But one day we had a talk….

"So when are you getting off? I know of this great restaurant not too far from here." Rob said leaning on Nicole's high speed chip placer with a grin.

"I will be off in one hour." Nicole said focused on her work with a smirk on her face.

"Hey you didn't give me an answer, clever girl." Rob said chuckling.

Nicole giggled "I am pulling your strings. I will accompany you."

"Great..." he paused "…I'm butting in but are you taken?" Rob asked happy to get an answer from her.

"No, but I have my eye on someone." Nicole spoke with a smile.

"Dang..." Rob paused snapping his finger still smiling "But why did you say yes?" he asked.

"..." Nicole remained silent.

Rob nodded thoughtfully "I understand. But don't you want to branch out? See what the world has to offer?" Rob held his hands in the air in a playful manner.

"There is nothing out there. What is already close to you is what is important until you throw it away and find out how good it was." Nicole said continuing her work; her face somewhat stoic now.

"You can say that you can grow to new things though?" Rob prodded with a grin.

"I think you can, although there is more meaning to what's close to you than afar." Nicole said smiling again.

"So you're saying whoever this guy is a safer choice?" Rob said not fully understanding Nicole's logic.

"I am unsure of his intentions as of now. I am saying I trust him." Nicole said still smiling.

Rob looked to be put off after I said that. That being said we went out, and we had nothing in common so a week later I was transferred and I had not seen him since. After going out with Rob I attempted to go out alone but with the more I learned, the more I seemed to say something to upset someone….

(Nicole's Living Room)

"I spent a lot of time socially interacting but have found I'd rather not interact when many people can be so cruel." Nicole said still looking down at the New OS manual with a gentle smile.

Sonic scratched his head looking at his laptop "Yea, people will be that way." he said thoughtfully.

"That is a similar concept that I tried to explain to Rob. One being that true friends happen once in a lifetime…." Nicole said flipping another page of the New OS manual keeping her smile.

"I try my best." Sonic said boastfully still looking at his computer as it gave him an error beep.

Nicole glanced over at him tearing her eyes away from the New OS manual; she smiled "…Sonic…why do you continue to befriend me? After all that's happened…you should have left me to fall to the wayside…" she asked him curiously knowing that this was not the first time she asked him such things.

Sonic grinned glancing over at her "I told you before Nicole, I don't do that. I would never feel right. What does feel right is helping my friends no matter what."

Nicole put on a fond smile "Even…" she inched out

Sonic nodded still grinning "No matter what." he stated again "Even after what you did…" he smirked a bit "…I know others disagree but I know what you did wasn't completely intentional. I don't let any of my friends go down without me intervening no matter what's happened. I've got your back Nicole, that's who I am and what I do."

Nicole felt butterflies in her stomach keeping her gentle smile as she turned her eyes back to the New OS manual accepting his answer once again "…I can never repay you…" she stated in a soft tone.

Sonic looked back at his computer "If you can help me out with computers everything will be forgiven." he joked.

Nicole giggled flipping another page of the New OS manual "It has been wonderful getting to sit down and talk with you Sonic. It has been the most pleasant talk I've had with a friend today. I am glad to at least converse and know one of my friends better. But I've been meaning to ask you. How have the people reacted to me…leaving?" she questioned.

Sonic had opened his mouth to speak when Nicole's doorbell rang again. She tore her eyes off the New OS manual and got up and opened her door and smiled seeing Amy at the door.

"Hey Nicole! Sorry I took so long." Amy smiled brightly.

"I called you thirty minutes ago." Nicole smirked as Amy walked in past Nicole; Nicole closed the door behind her.

"I wanted to catch up with you too." Amy said as Nicole followed her over to the couch.

Amy seated herself next to Sonic greeting him then Amy took Sonic's drink and began sipping on it. Questioning Nicole over what she and Sonic had been up to this whole time; making outrageous claims and what not. All the while, Nicole occasionally picked up her dink and sipped on it saying nothing had happened. Which made her grin as teased Amy; she continued switching between reading the New OS manual and picking up her laptop and typing.

It was all a good time and laughter, and conversation filled the room when suddenly Nicole bent her ears back looking directly at her TV screen and staring at it. Sonic and Amy blinked in surprise as their good time abruptly came to a stop. Nicole picked up the remote off the table in front of them with a frown on her face and turned the volume up…

(The TV Screen)

"The number one artist in Mobius after staying number one in the charts with her album Demanufacture is making a trip to New Mobotropolis. It has been rumored that she is coming out with a new single entitled "Nicole's Default Judgment." the male anchor said in an upbeat tone.

"She will be arriving tomorrow Chuck. The polls show that the people are excited for it." the female anchor said with just as a happy tone.

"I loved her past few albums, it really speaks to me. I'll be sure to pick you one up Diane." the male anchor chuckled.

"Thanks Chuck." the female chuckled along with him...

(Nicole's Living Room)

MUTE

Nicole placed the remote down, putting the new OS manual on the table, and putting her laptop on top of it. She looked at Sonic and Amy as they frowned.

"Did you know of this?" Nicole asked them with a serious face.

They shook their heads, and Nicole looked for any faults in their features but found none "I didn't know Mina was coming back now….this is the first I heard of it…" Sonic said with a worried face.

"Me neither." Amy said looking just as worried.

"The music." Nicole said in a serious tone with a frown on her face looking at Sonic.

"I was going to talk about that a little later but our conversation was cut short…." Sonic said as he frowned too.

Nicole's frown deepened as she slowly looked back at the TV and stared at it. She wondered how long had this been going on….

She got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach and realized this could be part of the reason, and other reasons why everyone had been looking at her. And she knew this was not going to turn out well….

If it's not one thing it's the other. Mina returns! But her return could be for the worse. How will Nicole deal with all that she has learned about her past? How will she deal with all the problems caused by her past actions? How will the citizens react to Nicole's return? What did Sally want to talk to Nicole about? What does Sally have in store for Sonic? What else will Rotor learn from the DVDs? What happened in Nicole's future and why was she sent back? What will he do about his own morality issues? What has changed with New Mobotropolis and with Mobius? Will Nicole have Sonic? Find out next time! Later.