-Chapter 173-

Flesh and Blood


Knothole

A month passed after the invasion. The Freedom Fighters and Chaotix worked overtime to help fix everything the Black Arms broke, from Station Square to Central City to Knothole. Fortunately, Freedom HQ, due to its status as a former underground cavern, was largely unscathed, allowing Sonic and co. to continue crashing there, and the Brain Trust to work overtime on installing the Black Arms' Bio-Analyzer into the De-Roboticizer prototype. They barely took time to sleep or eat, Shard having to occasionally drug their coffee so they didn't kill themselves from overworking. The prospect of their pinnacle project finally being finished and functional was just too good to pass up. Finally, one day had them gathered in the lab once again, standing before the De-Roboticizer.

"Well gang, it's been tough slaying, but we finally did it," Tekno announced. "The Bio-Analyzer is installed, and the De-Roboticizer is up and raring to go."

The device opened up.

"I assume Uncle Chuck wants to be the test monkey again." Keith said.

"Indeed," Uncle Chuck confirmed. "But I get the feeling that this time, I will not suffer the same adverse effects as before."

"Let's hope not," said Rotor. "That was not a pleasant experience."

"Hey, I'm the one who actually felt it. Anyway…"

He stepped inside, the capsule closing over him. Sonic had his fingers crossed for the success of the procedure.

"You ready?" Chris asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Uncle Chuck replied.

"Activating de-roboticizing sequence in five, four, three, two…" Nicole counted.

They threw the switch and Uncle Chuck was bathed in brilliant blue light. A few minutes passed before the light faded. The capsule opened, steam escaping from the device.

"Uncle Chuck?" Tails called. "How do you feel?"

Uncle Chuck stepped out, fully back to his old organic self.

"Even better than last time," he replied. "I'm not going to revert this time, Sonic. It's permanent."

Sonic grinned, then rushed forward to hug his Uncle.

"Finally…" he sighed.

"We did it!" Porker cheered.

"For real this time!" Rotor added.

"Alright geniuses," Sally cut in. "Now that you know it works, all of you are reporting for showers and bedrest. Mandatory, no arguments."

They all filed out at that. Shard sighed.

"Good. I don't have to worry about going so far as to put Streaking Pasha tranquilizers in their coffee."

"Thanks for being such a trooper with that, Shard," Sally told him. "Seriously."

"Just happy to be of service."


Once the brains had fully rested and eaten, and they confirmed after twenty-four hours that the De-Roboticizer's effects were permanent, Sally put out a call to all Robians to come for a cure. Among the first to be cured were Jules, Coco, and Isabella, all of whom eagerly embraced their families upon being returned to flesh and blood. Everyone else gathered in lines with their loved ones, eager to become human/Mobian once more. While this was going on, Kat approached Hope.

"Hey, I'm glad you guys got this thing working and all, but I can think of one Robian that most certainly will not fit in that machine." she said.

"Sabina. The robo-dragon," Hope realized. "Needless to say, we thought of that."

She handed Kat a handheld raygun colored red with blue trim. "De-roboticization in portable form."

Kat blinked. "Seriously?"

"Yep. Point, shoot, and bam, instant de-roboticization."

"Right," Kat nodded. "Mind if I take this and head on out?"

"You go on," Hope smiled as she watched another family embrace each other after a member emerged from the machine. "I'm just gonna watch this for awhile."

Kat nodded, sliding the gun onto her belt before grabbing a Warp Ring.

"Hey Knux!" she called. "I'm popping over to Dragon's Nest to help Sabina!"

"Pick up some Chun-ese food on your way back!" Knuckles called back. "We're throwing a party after everyone's cured!"

"Will do!" Kat replied.


Dragon's Nest

The dragons were lounging about when the Warp Ring opened up, Kat exiting. Once she stepped through, she was suddenly tackled by a dragon about her size. They both landed hard on the ground and she looked up to see Kaen standing on top of her, grinning happily.

"Hello again, Kaen," she greeted, a smile of her own gracing her features. "Look how big you've gotten."

Kaen stood back, letting her get up. Though little under a year old, he had grown quite a bit since his hatching, now wearing a green martial arts gi with a yellow belt and black shoes.

"Kitty!" he exclaimed.

"Close, Kaen," Cinder cut in, approaching her young son. "Her name is Kat."

"Kitty!"

Kat just laughed.

"As long as he doesn't tell any of my friends, I don't mind," she decided. "Is Sabina around?"

"Yes, but why?"

Kat held up the gun with a smile. "We finally did it. Portable De-Roboticizer right here."

"You can cure her?" Cinder let out.

"Yep. I just need to find her."

Cinder led her into the nest, off to a side room where Dulcy was asleep. Sabina sat off to the side, getting what rest she could in her condition.

"Sabina!" Kat called.

Sabina lifted her head, turning to see Kat in the door.

"Hello, Kathryn. What can I do for you?"

"Actually, it's what I can do for you. I just need you to hold still, and try not to freak out."

Before Sabina could ask for clarification, Kat lifted the De-Roboticization gun and fired. Sabina was engulfed in blue light, which roused Dulcy from her slumber.

"Whozit?" she let out.

As she looked, Kat lowered the gun. The light faded, revealing Sabina had been reverted to her organic form, similar to Dulcy but with olive colored scales, a straw-colored underbelly, and spiky brown scales on her head that resembled hair.

"Ma…?" Dulcy managed.

Sabina felt herself up and down, gasping in disbelief as her eyes became misty.

"I… I'm back," she let out. "I'm not a robot."

She reached out for Dulcy tentatively, her claws gently caressing her daughter's snout.

"I- I can feel again…"

The two dragons embraced happily, Kat smiling as they did. After a few minutes, Dulcy pulled away, taking Kat's hands.

"You finally did it. You found the cure."

"Oh, the credit goes to the FF Brain Trust. I'm just the messenger here, but I'll make sure they get your thanks."

Kat holstered the gun and was about to pull out a Warp Ring when she felt Dulcy's hand on her shoulder.

"Wait. While I have you and that gun, there's another Robian who could use her help. She's part of the Dragon Kingdom Freedom Fighter group I helped start."

"Hang on," Kat turned to her. "You have a Robian on your team? Are they free?"

"Once you told us about the Power Rings, we hunted one down and freed her," Dulcy explained.

Kat thought about it, then smiled.

"Well, I am curious to meet these Dragon Kingdom Freedom Fighters, and I did promise to pick up some food before heading back."

"You can do both from there. Just come with me."


Chun-nan

Kat flew on Dulcy's back to the area where her Freedom Fighters were stationed. She recognized Monkey Khan atop a nearby rooftop, giving him a wave as they passed him by. He returned the gesture as Kat took in the surrounding village and realized something familiar about it. She looked around a bit more closely, a hand going to her mouth as recognition dawned.

"This... This is my village…"

"Yes," Dulcy confirmed. "Once we began the group, we decided to come back here and rebuild. Use it as a base."

Kat sat back on Dulcy's back, utterly stunned.

"I... I thought there was nothing left... nothing but ash… But... it's back. It's... rebuilt…"

Dulcy brought her down in a large clearing in the center of town that seemed to have been set up for her. She gently pulled Kat off her back, setting the stunned girl on her feet.

"Everyone!" she called. "We have a visitor!"

Several people crowded around, greeting Kat. An older Chun-nese woman approached, recognizing her.

"Kathryn?" she asked. "Kathryn Winters?"

Kat blinked, turning to see the woman, her eyes going wide.

"Miss Kim?" she let out. "From 6th-grade math?"

Miss Kim stopped, looking her up and down before hugging her.

"It is you," she realized. "We all thought you died on the Death Egg that day."

Kat looked around, and started seeing many familiar faces among the crowd.

"How... how is this- I- I was the only… How?"

"Sonic rescued our shift before the Death Egg went down," Miss Kim explained. "You didn't know?"

Kat just shook her head, dropping to her knees from sheer shock.

"I'm not alone…" she managed.

Dulcy patted her back before turning to the others.

"There's a reason I brought her here," she explained. "The Knothole Freedom Fighters finally worked out a way to reverse roboticization. Where is Sumiko?"

Kat perked.

"Sumiko? Sumiko Liu?" she got to her feet. "If she got out, does that mean-?"

"Yep," a new voice cut in, this one speaking perfect English.

Through the crowd came a girl around her age, with long black hair in a ponytail, green eyes, and matching green makeup. Her outfit was a green ninja gi with purple trim, green gloves with purple fingers, and green sneakers, and she had a green bandana tied around her forehead.

"Kat Winters…" she let out. "I'll be damned."

They looked one another up and down before embracing.

"Jade…" Kat was full on crying as she clutched her childhood friend. "You're alive…"

"So are you." Jade remarked, looking at the burns on Kat's arm. "I thought you died on the Death Egg. How did you survive?"

"That is a long story," Kat answered, wiping her eyes. "And right now, I could really, really, use some tea."

Jade nodded in understanding.

"You got it."

She took Kat's hand, leading her off.

-X-

Jade led her to a small home not far from the square, a place Kat recognized as Jade's house. they went inside and Jade set her down at the table in the center of the room. Kat made herself comfortable, looking around the place as Jade began brewing some tea

"You still like Jasmine, right?"

"Haven't had it in forever, but yeah."

Jade began working on the tea, waiting for the water to warm before turning to her friend.

"Just where have you been all this time? It's been almost two years since… well, you know."

Kat let out a small laugh.

"Angel Island."

"Get out."

"I'm serious. It's a real place."

"You expect me to believe you've been on a mystical flying island this whole time?"

"Cross my heart, Jade. It's real, and home to a tribe of Echidnas. They sort of adopted me after awhile, and now I'm one of them."

The tea finished and Jade brought it over, along with some rice crackers. Kat took her cup, gently blowing on it before taking a sip. She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.

"Ah, that's exactly what I needed."

Jade swirled her tea in her cup, then set it down without drinking anything.

"Kat… what happened?"

Kat paused, lowering her cup, but keeping her hands around it.

"The Death Egg crashed on Angel Island, which gave me this." She gestured to her burnt arm. "Eggman sent drones to-"

"Eggman?" Jade interjected.

Kat blinked for a second, then she realized what Jade meant.

"Oh, right, sorry. Eggman is the name the Freedom Fighters gave Dr. Robotnik. Not sure exactly where it came from, the moniker having come around before I joined, but it's gotten to the point that we don't really use his 'real name' anymore."

"Huh..." Jade let out. "Anyways, you were saying."

"Right… Eggman sent drones to… deal with the prisoners. I managed to hide, then I ran the second I got the chance. Knuckles found me lost and starving in the woods around his home, took me in, and the rest is history."

"So… no one else made it out?"

Kat shook her head.

"To be honest, I thought I was the only one who made it out. I didn't know you or anyone else had escaped."

Jade blinked as something hit her.

"So... wait. All this time you've been with the Knothole Freedom Fighters, and Sonic never once told you he got my shift to the escape pods before the Death Egg went down?"

"No… but then again, I never asked," Kat let out a small laugh. "It's funny, I ragged on him for just assuming about my people, and I did the exact same thing. But if I'm being honest, I'm just happy to hear I'm not the only survivor."

"It doesn't matter," Jade said, annoyed. "He left you behind on the Death Egg, then let you think we were all dead for over a year."

"Hey, you have no idea how insane things were back then," Kat pointed out. "I was lucky to have a moment to clear up my misplaced hatred among the confusion. After that, it's just been one Eggman scheme and apocalyptic scenario after another."

"Look, Sonic did everything in his power to make things right, and I've seen guilt and self loathing eat him alive since that day. That, and I literally beat the shit out of him when we first met, so I've already 'punished' him enough. Don't hold this against him."

"Alright, fine." Jade gave in.

"Jade…" Kat looked her in the eyes. "Promise me. Please. Let us just enjoy this reunion without any bad blood."

"Yeah…" Jade nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me."

Kat smiled and hugged her friend.

"Is this a bad time?"

Jade and Kat turned, the latter grinning when she saw a Robian girl standing in the door. She looked like an older version of Jade, her late teens or early twenties at best.

"Sumi!" Kat exclaimed. "How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough," Sumiko replied. "I heard you were alive, and brought a cure for my... condition, Kitty Kat."

Kat groaned, burying her face in her hands, muttering in English. "I see that nickname survived."

"You know my grasp on English isn't that good," Sumiko said. "Chun-nese please."

"Alright then. Stick 'em up!"

Kat aimed the gun at Sumiko, who had just enough time to blink before she fired and bathed her in blue light. As the light faded and Sumiko was returned to her natural form, Kat smirked.

"Well that felt good," she remarked, holstering the gun. "I did tell you I'd shoot you one day for that nickname."

Sumiko looked down at herself, flexing her fingers before touching her face and running her hand through her hair. Jade got up, gently reaching up to touch her sister. Both then grasped one another and hugged tightly. Kat smiled as she watched the sisters embrace.

-X-

Later, after spending some time getting reacquainted, Kat headed out, picking up some fresh pork buns before preparing a Warp Ring.

"You're really leaving, huh?" Jade asked, approaching.

"Yeah," Kat nodded. "As happy as I am that this place is thriving again, it's not my home anymore. My home is on Angel Island now, and I have friends waiting for me."

She then slugged Jade on the arm gently. "But don't think you've seen the last of me. I'll be coming by for a visit every now and again."

"I'll hold you to that," Jade smiled as they hugged again. "Thanks for coming…"

"Thanks for being here to come back to," Kat replied.

They pulled away, both misty eyed as Kat pulled out a Warp Ring and headed home. As the portal closed, Sumiko approached.

"You know, you forgot to tell her about the monument," she pointed out.

Jade paused for a moment, then facepalmed hard.

"Okay, maybe Kat was onto something with the skewed priorities thing," she muttered.

"Next time," Sumiko decided, putting a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I'm sure she'll love it."


Mobotropolis

Later, at Castle Acorn, a party was thrown just as Knuckles said. Food and drink was set out as the ex-Robians celebrated their first meal in over a year. Sonic and the others were off to the side, mingling as Kat told them what she found.

"So your hometown was rebuilt?" Sally asked. "Dulcy's Freedom Fighter squad has been using it as a base?"

"Yeah, and the survivors were there, including my best friend Jade," Kat replied, munching on a pork bun before letting out a long breath. "Aurora, you have no idea how badly I needed that reunion."

"Back up a bit," Knuckles insisted as he turned to Sonic. "You never once told Kat you saved that one shift?"

"What? I did." He thought back for a bit before his eyes widened. "I didn't?"

Kat shook her head

"Nope. Why do you think I've been called the 'Sole Survivor' this whole time?"

Knuckles gave him a dirty look.

"Hey, put yourself in my place, Knux," Sonic defended. "Things were insane on Angel Island. Eggman had duped you into thinking I was the bad guy. I was dealing with the fact I left other people behind, as well as Kat's displaced aggression. From there, I've been dealing with one Eggman scheme and thwarting one villain after another. I don't have a photographic memory; of course it'd slip my mind."

Knuckles took that in, finding himself unable to offer a good counter argument.

"Yeah, ease up," Kat chimed in. "I'm done being mad at Sonic for that day. Besides, I was able to enjoy an amazing reunion with my childhood friend, and get some genuine Shēngcún pork buns."

She took a bite of one. As they relaxed, Sonic sighed, thinking over the events of the past month.

"I need a vacation," he muttered.

"I think we all do," Sally remarked.

There were murmurs of exhausted agreement all around.

"You think the world will stay saved long enough for us to actually take a break," Sonic said.

"Oh, it better," Knuckles remarked.

"I've got an idea where we could go," Amy offered. "Soleanna."

"That tourist trap in Eurish?" Mina questioned.

"Hey, it's actually a beautiful place," Sally defended. "I've met the princess there once or twice when I was little, and my dad went there on business. Last time I was there was ten years ago, at the Duke's funeral." She thought back. "And now's the perfect time. Their annual Festival of the Sun is coming up soon."

"Hey, if there's a festival, count me in." Sonic declared, murmurs of consent sounding.

"Then it's settled," Sally declared. "The Freedom Fighters will be taking a much needed vacation. But for now…"

They kicked back, enjoying the party and celebrating their completion of the De-Roboticizer.


Author's Note:

The De-Roboticizer is finally complete and the damage Robotnik has done has been partially reverted. And yes, if you recall back in the Sonic 2 adaptation, Sonic did save one shift of workers before taking on Silver Sonic and the Death Egg Robot.

Next chapter begins a Sonic 06 adaptation.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Kaen - Aaron Dismuke (Oscar Pine from RWBY, Lucifer from The Devil is a Part-Timer!)

* Jade - Trina Nishimura (Chao Lingshen from Negima, Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan, Meiling Li in Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card)

* Sumiko - Ashly Burch (Chun-Li in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Cassie Cage in Mortal Kombat X, Sasha Blouse from Attack on Titan)

Please R&R. Until next time!