-Chapter 290-
Revelations, Part 1
Station Square
A lone figure walked along the frigid streets of the still-thawing city, covered from head to toe. He eventually arrived at an old laboratory. After making sure he wasn't being followed, he walked over to the lab, unlocked the door, and slipped inside.
"Brrr…" he let out. "I've heard of Christmas in July, but this is ridiculous!"
Suddenly, a flashlight shined in his face.
"Who's there!?" Chuck Thorndyke ran in, holding a waffle iron like a weapon. "I'm warning you, I've got a waffle iron!"
"Chuck, calm down!" The figure removed his headwear, revealing Uncle Chuck. "It's me!"
"Charles?" Chuck sighed, relaxing. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"Took the words right out of my mouth."
"Haven't seen you in a while since you got elected for the Council. How've you been?"
"Good, all things considered. Yourself?"
"Well, Chris and his friends are finally finished with all they can do. Though a rather cold start to their summer vacation."
Uncle Chuck sighed. "Yes. But, at least they managed to deal Julian and his forces a crushing blow. I doubt we'll be hearing from him for a while with the Artikan Egg Army in shambles."
"Indeed. Speaking of, we'd best be on our way before we're late." Chuck turned to go, motioning for Uncle Chuck to follow him. Eventually, the two Chucks made their way to a small meeting room, where Prof. Pickle was sitting at a table eating a cucumber sandwich.
"Ah, Charles and Sir Charles," he greeted. "Welcome."
"Dillon?" Uncle Chuck let out. "Well, isn't this a surprise? Last I heard, you and Sara were off investigating an Ancient dig site in Bretonia."
"Ah, yes yes. Wonderful place. However, I could hardly ignore the call of an old friend. Especially with how urgent it sounded."
The Chucks looked confused.
"What do you mean?" Chuck asked.
"Why, the email you sent me last week, of course. It sounded most urgent."
"I...didn't send any email." Uncle Chuck said. "Chuck?"
"Neither did I."
"Oh, come now," Pickle insisted. "This is hardly the time for such shenanigans. I received an email telling me to come to Station Square. Specifically, the old ROCC laboratory."
"Dillon, I swear, this isn't a joke," Chuck insisted. "Neither Charles nor I set up this meeting. And even if we did, this is the last place we'd ever hold it."
Pickle paused, looking worried. "But...if you two didn't do all this, then who did?"
"I did."
The trio perked, turning to see the massive figure of Eddie the Yeti standing in the room.
"Good lord!" Pickle exclaimed.
"Dear Aurora!" Uncle Chuck cried.
Eddie looked around before perking. "Oh, sorry."
He stepped aside, revealing Nate Morgan. He had a walking stick in one hand, and a handheld that was clearly the Kintobor Computer in the other.
"Nathaniel?" Chuck managed.
"Good evening, gentlemen." Nate greeted. "I apologize for the scare. After what happened with the Einherjar, Edward has been insistent that I take him with me whenever I leave the castle."
"Safe."
Nate stepped forward, with Eddie pulling out a chair and placing him on it.
"Nathaniel, what's the meaning of this?" Uncle Chuck asked.
"Why in the world would you call us all the way out here in the middle of the night?" Chuck questioned.
Nate took a deep breath, his expression turning grim.
"It's something I discovered… about our project." He took a step forward, placing the Kintobor Computer on the table. "After the Little Planet incident, I took the computer created from the Power Ring containing Julian's brainwaves up to Artika for my research. I was hoping to pick its brain for any information on how to rebuild the ROCC, and potentially reverse its effects on Julian. Instead, I found something...most troubling."
"Well, don't keep us in the dark," Pickle insisted. "What is it?"
Nate sighed. "Very well."
He activated the computer, a hologram of Julian's head projecting from it.
"Greetings, gentlemen!" the Computer greeted.
"Julian, open File #STC-85," Nate ordered.
The computer paused nervously. "Y-Yes, of course."
His eyes unfocused as he loaded the file, Suddenly, several holo-screens appeared, all featuring countless research documents and notes.
"My word!" Uncle Chuck exclaimed.
"What is all this?" Chuck questioned.
"Julian's research into the ROCC," Nate said grimly. "All the parts he kept from us."
"What are you…?"
"By Aurora…"
The Chucks turned to Dillon, who looked absolutely horrified.
"Dillon, what's the matter?" Chuck asked.
Dillon pointed to one of the screens. The two Chucks read it. Once they finished, they were just as shocked.
"No..." Uncle Chuck let out.
"It can't be..." Chuck managed.
Nate's expression was grim. "I'm afraid it is."
"I...I don't believe this..." Uncle Chuck let out. "All this time… Julian, how could you…"
Chuck cringed. "I think I'm going to be ill."
"Nathaniel, this is…" Dillion sighed. "By the gods, what are we going to tell Sonic and the others?"
"We aren't." Nate shook his head. "Especially not Hope. She thinks the world of Julian. If she found out about this... it'd break her heart. And if the others found out… If anyone found out about this, Julian's reputation... all the good he's done... it'll be ruined. He deserves to be remembered for his lifetime of service, not for his unfortunate misstep."
"So, that's why you called us all here?" Uncle Chuck questioned. "To tell us to keep quiet about this?"
Nate nodded, but Chuck wasn't sure. "We can't keep this from Sonic and his friends forever, Nate. They have the right to know."
"Maybe," the short doctor concurred. "But that doesn't mean it's in their best interests. The Freedom Fighters just finished defeating one of the Empire's most bloodthirsty, murderous generals. The people of Mobius were nearly frozen to death."
The Kintobor Computer sighed, his expression stricken with remorse. "I know what he... what I... was planning was reprehensible. I don't deny it for a second. But please know that the ROCC was created with the best intentions."
"With the best intentions?" Chuck turned to him. "Some of the worst atrocities in Mobius' history were committed with the best intentions. But to cover it up...?"
"We don't have a choice, Charles," Dillon said. "This wouldn't just destroy Julian Kintobor's reputation if it got out. It could turn all of Mobius against each other. I know this sounds ludicrous coming from a professor of archaeology, but this is a secret we must take to our graves."
"Indeed," Uncle Chuck agreed. "As much as it pains me, the world must never know what he did."
"Then, it's settled," Nate declared solemnly. "None of this information leaves this lab and all documents related to the ROCC are to be stored in the Kintobor Computer's database, with all other copies being destroyed."
"Agreed," Dillon stated.
"Very well," Uncle Chuck added.
The group then turned to Chuck, who was looking off to the side with a conflicted expression.
"Charles..." Nate pressed.
Chuck sighed. "Alright… If we've no other choice..."
Nate smiled. "Thank you, gentlemen. I'm sorry to place this burden on you. Just know that your silence may very well save the world."
With that, the assembled scientists slowly dispersed, still unsure how to handle the awful truth they had just discovered.
Thorndyke Manor
In Chris and Keith's backyard lab, Hope eagerly typed away at a computer.
"Oh my gosh...this is absolutely incredible!" she gushed. "I knew the Cyberization implants were advanced, but actually seeing the complete system specs… I'm not sure whether I should be excited or terrified!"
"Both?" Chris offered.
Hope nodded. "Yeah, both. Both is good."
"Both is very good," Rotor agreed. "On one hand, this is what we're up against. On the other hand, this is like any sci-fi fan's dream come true!"
He gestured enthusiastically at the computer.
"I mean, just look at this! Nicole was right, this has so much potential!"
"Not only that, he actually managed to improve on the Legion's original designs," Julie-Su added. "I didn't even think that was possible."
"Julie, if there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that anything's possible," Keith said.
Kat just groaned, flopping onto the couch in the lab. "I swear, you nerds have been absolutely gobsmacked by the Cyberization for the past hour. I thought you were trying to figure out how they work."
"We are!" Keith pointed out. "Here, take a look at this!"
Kat hopped off the couch, walking over to see what all the fuss was about.
"Alright, according to Julie-Su, the original Legionization implants were just that. Prosthetic limbs and organs made of Nanojelly that they'd stick into the unfortunate recipient."
Kat nodded. "Okay, following you so far."
"Well, Eggman found a way to make the implants even more powerful," Chris continued, bringing up several system images. "He managed to find a way to infuse every cell in the body with nanomachines."
"Like those nanites I drank?"
"Yeah, only bigger. It's basically a giant, internal computer network inside your body. Using that, it improves the implants' performance and energy efficiency drastically, allowing for more complex and unorthodox implants like the Einherjar's Ragnium Boost System."
"It's also what allows the victims to heal fast, and the Crack Circuit to lock up or...destroy a person's body," Hope added. "Unfortunately, without an actual Crack Circuit, we can't figure out the exact details."
"Still, with this kind of data, we can come up with more effective ways to fight these new Egg Soldiers," Rotor pointed out.
"And anything new we can find out about Eggtech is always a win," Hope remarked.
"Cool, cool," Kat nodded. "You nerds have fun. I'm gonna snag some food from the house."
"Alright, see ya in a bit!" Keith replied.
And with that, she left.
"Wow," Rotor said. "She seemed... What's the word...?"
"Bored, Rotor," Julie cut in. "She looked bored."
"Not what I was gonna say, but...yeah."
"She's not a scientist," Keith said. "I think she only comes here so she can minimize explosions."
Julie-Su nodded. "Yeah, that tracks. Honestly, it's surprising you two even started dating."
Keith shrugged. "I guess opposites attract."
-X-
Up in the kitchen, Kat was raiding the fridge.
"Hey Ella?" she called. "Is there any more ramune?"
"Is that the soda-like drink with the marble in the bottle?" the cook asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I think there's some on the bottom shelf."
"Thanks!"
Kat opened the fridge, finding what she was looking for. She grabbed several bottles, as well as a bin of grapes. As she turned back, she saw Chris' grandfather wander in. He looked absolutely ragged like he hadn't slept well.
"Dr. Chuck?"
"Hm!?" he turned toward Kat, smiling tiredly. "Oh, hello there, Kathryn! I forgot you were coming over. The boys still goin' over those cyborg schematics you got from ol' Tank?"
Kat nodded nervously. "Yeah..."
"Perdóname (1), but are you alright, sir?" Ella asked. "You look unwell."
Chuck shook his head. "It's nothing. I just... had a rough night."
Kat looked him up and down, sensing something was off. "I see..."
"Yeah," the elder scientist let out a yawn. "I should probably take a quick power nap."
"Yeah, you go do that…" Kat's eyes narrowed, her sus meter going off
"I will. Seeya in a bit, hun."
With that, Chuck shambled out.
"Yeah... see ya in a bit." Kat popped the ramune bottle open dramatically.
-X-
Back in the lab, the nerds continue looking over the schematics.
"Y'know, I think I might be able to incorporate some of Dad's cryotech into my suit," Rotor said as he looked over the blueprints for Sherman's cyber-tusks.
"Not a bad idea," Hope concurred. "We already have a fire girl, why not an ice man?"
"Hm?" Keith perked as Kat entered. "Eh, back already? That was fast. I..."
He stopped, seeing the odd look on her face. "Kat?"
"Everything alright?" Chris asked.
"Not really…" Kat replied. "What's up with your grandpa?"
Chris blinked. "What do you mean?"
"He just came shuffling into the kitchen, looking like a zombie. Looked like he hadn't slept in days, and he deflected hard when I asked."
"Hold up," Chris held up a hand. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying my sus meter went off hard."
The group paused at that.
"Wait, Grandpa triggered your sus meter?" Keith questioned.
"He's hiding something. Something big." Ka flexed the fingers on her tattooed arm, feeling the old scars tingle slightly. "And whatever it is, it's got me on edge…"
"Whoa, whoa, Grandpa Chuck, hiding something?" Chris shook his head. "Th-That's crazy! What could he possibly be hiding that could be that huge?"
"That's what's got me on edge."
"Hmmmm…" Keith adjusted his glasses. "Maybe we should talk to him."
-X-
Meanwhile, Chuck sat at his desk, his head in his hands.
"Ohhh…" he sighed. "Oh Aurora… What do I do?"
He heard a knock on the door.
"Master Charles?" Mr. Tanaka's voice came.
"Tanaka, I'm sorry, but unless it's an emergency, I'd like to be alone."
"Master Chris, Master Keith, Miss Hope, and Miss Kaitian want to see you."
Chuck froze, recalling Kat's intuition and realizing she was onto him. He sighed in resignation.
"Blast it all… tell them I'll be right there."
"As you wish, sir."
-X-
In the hearth room, Team Thorndyke sat as Chuck arrived.
"Hey there, kids!" he greeted. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah, we did," Keith replied.
"Grandpa, are you feeling alright?" Chris asked.
Chuck nodded. "Like I told Kathryn earlier, I didn't sleep well last night. Probably shouldn't have had that leftover Sonic Dog before bed."
"Dr. Chuck, please don't lie to us." Kat requested.
"Lie? Why would I–?"
"You're hiding something. I don't know what, but you're not acting like yourself. And I've seen how your family handles drowsiness."
Chuck grimaced before sighing.
"Shoulda known better than to try around you, dear..." he rubbed his eyes. "Alright, yes. I am hiding something. I admit that much. But if you came in here thinking I'd tell you what it is, you thought wrong. You're all better off not knowing."
"But why?" Hope asked.
"Grandpa, is something serious?" Chris perked. "Are you-?!"
"It's not about me."
"Then what is it about?" Kat asked.
"It's on a need-to-know basis. You don't need to know. Believe me, some truths are best left unsaid."
"But-!" Keith began.
"No buts!" Chuck snapped.
"Dr. Thorndyke!" Hope objected. "If it's hurting you this much, we have the right to know!"
Chuck sighed, rubbing his eyes. "You may have the right to know, but that doesn't mean it's in your best interests to know. Now please, I am begging you, drop it."
"No," Kat said firmly. "We're not leaving. We're not dropping it.
"Kathryn…" Suddenly, Chuck's phone went off.
"Oh thank you, merciful Aurora…" he sighed before answering. "Yes? Ah, one moment. It's for you, Sonny." He handed it to Chris.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Chris!" Sonic's voice came. "I tried calling your phone, but it went straight to voicemail. You alright?"
"Not really. My grandpa's being weird. Set off Kat's sus meter, and he won't talk to us."
Chuck winced.
"Chuck? That's… not like him."
"Yeah… anyway, what's up?"
"I just wanted to call to let you know if you're gonna be there for Rotor's folks' big housewarming party. The one we were planning?"
Chris perked. "Oh right! I almost forgot."
"Chris?" Hope asked.
Chris turned to them. "Sherman and Georgette's party! We got so caught up in the Cyberization implants we forgot!"
"Crap!" Keith cursed.
Shit… Kat swore.
"We'll be right there," Chris told Sonic. "Just give us a minute."
"Alright, see ya then!" Sonic hung up.
"Seems you kids have somewhere to be…" Chuck mused.
"Yeah, looks like," Hope remarked.
Chris handed Chuck's phone back. "See you later, Grandpa."
As they headed out, Kat stopped, turning to face Chuck.
"Whatever it is, you know you can't hide it forever, Doc," she warned. "We're gonna find out one way or another... and the sooner you come clean, the easier it's gonna be."
With that, she joined the others, leaving Chuck alone. Chuck sighed before making another call.
"Nate, it's me..."
Mobotropolis
Sometime later, the Knothole Freedom Fighters had assembled at the Walruses' new home next to Sonic's parents' house. While they prepared and handed out food and refreshments, Sherman and Georgette were mingling with Sonic and Tails' folks, catching up and, in the case of the fathers, drinking.
"To our old friends, new neighbors, and their new lease on life!" Jules declared proudly.
"Here, here!" Amadeus concurred.
"Woot!" Sherman hollered.
The former squadmates raised and clinked their glasses in a toast then proceeded to down their contents all at once, a decision Jules and Amadeus immediately came to regret.
"Great Scott!" Amadeus shouted, before breaking into a coughing fit. "What was in that bottle, beer or turpentine!?"
Jules let out a raspy gag. "Whatever it is, it's making my throat burn!"
"Ha! Weenies," Sherman chortled as he poured himself another glass. "Twenty-something years later and you fellas still can't handle your liquor."
"Love you too, Tank," Jules let out as he cleared his throat.
While the men drank their poison, their wives engaged in an old habit of their own: gossip over tea.
"So, you're actually thinking of running for a seat on the Council, Rosie?" Georgette asked.
"I figured it was about time," Rosemary Prower said, blowing on her cup. "Everybody's been saying I should for years. I just never felt I had much of a chance."
"Sure you do!" Bernie replied. "If Chuck could get elected, you'd win in a landslide! Right, Chuck?"
Uncle Chuck was sitting off in the corner, listlessly staring down at a glass of scotch, lost in thought.
"Chuck?" Bernie called out. "Chuuuuuuuuck!"
"Hm!?" Chuck perked, clearing his throat. "Oh…o-of course, Bernie, I-I think so too…"
Bernie and Jules raised an eyebrow.
"You alright there, Chuck?" Jules asked.
"I'm fine, Jules," he replied. "Just…a little tired. Would you excuse me for a moment, I need to make a call."
With that, he left, leaving everyone looking confused and a little worried.
"Okaaaaay…"
At that, Sonic came in with a plate of hors d'oeuvres.
"Assorted tiny edibles for the man and woman of the hour?" he said in an exaggerated fancy accent.
"Mercy byu-coop, garkon!" Sherman replied as took half the plate, not noticing Antoine twitching as he passed by.
"Sherman, save some for the others!" Georgette lightly chided.
"Relax Georgie, they said they brought plenty!"
Georgette shook her head in fond exasperation.
"So, Sherman," Jules asked. "What are your plans now that you're back from the dead?"
"Hmmm...not really sure," the walrus said as he shoved several sardines into his mouth. "Aside from helping Georgie get back on her feet and training Skeets and Boomer, I hadn't really thought that far ahead."
"Perhaps you could rejoin the military?" Amadeus suggested. "The Royal Guard could use a man like you."
"Heck yeah! Squad Saturn reunion special!" Jules cheered, only to stop short. "Oh wait, it's only half of us…now I made myself sad."
Amadeus shook his head. "Julian's gone bad and Beau's still stuck as his minion…"
"Yeah…" Sherman sighed. "Wait, what about Neph?"
Jules and Amadeus winced.
"Well…" Jules began.
As his dad and the others talked, Sonic drifted over to the women's table.
"Hey, Mom, is something wrong with Uncle Chuck?" he whispered.
"I wish I knew, sweetie," Bernie said. "He's been acting weird for a while."
Sonic perked. "He has?"
"He got a message from Dr. Morgan not too long ago asking him to meet with him. Ever since then, he's been acting like he's seen a ghost."
"Seriously?" Sonic asked.
"Just like Grandpa…" Chris whispered.
"Chris?"
"Grandpa went out for something the same night," Chris explained. "And he's been acting weird too!"
"But why…?" Sonic thought for a moment, then perked. "Wait...Uncle Chuck, Dr. Thorndyke, Dr. Morgan…was Professor Pickle there too?"
Chris thought for a moment. "I'm not sure…why?"
"Because the last time they were all together was for the ROCC project!"
As soon as Sonic said that word, the entire room went silent in a combination of fear and shock…except for the Walruses, who looked confused.
"The ROCC?" Georgette asked.
"What's a rock got to do with anything?" Sherman questioned.
"Wait, what do you mean 'what'?" Rotor sputtered.
"Exactly what I said, what are you kids talking about?" he replied.
"But how do you…? Didn't Eggman tell you?"
"Uhhh…no?"
"Right…" Sonic took a sharp breath. "Take a seat, everybody. It's storytime."
With that, Sonic recounted the tale of the Rise of the Robotnik. From the moment he and Uncle Chuck got off the train to meet with his colleagues, to the reveal of the ROCC and how Julian built it to rid the world of evil, to the accident that destroyed it and turned him into the monster he was today and how he and the others formed the Freedom Fighters to stop him.
"And that's how it's been ever since," Sonic concluded, everyone looking on in solemn or stupefied silence.
"Odin's beard…" Sherman let out.
"Oh goodness…" Georgette added.
"Yeah…" Sonic shook his head. "It's not a fun story."
"A machine built to rid the world of evil…" Sherman whispered. "That's… how does that even…?"
"It was the Chaos Emeralds," Sonic explained. "We were only able to find six of them. Without the full set, the machine's energy was unstable, and…"
"No, no, not that," Sherman cut in. "I mean, could a machine exploding make Julie evil? That doesn't make any sense!"
Sonic blinked. "Doesn't make any sense?"
"Mr. Walrus, what are you talking about? It makes perfect sense!" Chris exclaimed. "When the ROCC exploded, Dr. Kintobor got blasted with all the evil energy it had absorbed, turning him into Robotnik. It's like you got turned into Tundra."
"And where did this 'evil energy' come from?" he asked.
"You know, it came from…" Sonic paused. "It…came from…"
He turned to Chris, hoping to get some answers.
"Don't look at me," Chris said with a shrug. "I'm a scientist, not a philosopher."
Sonic grimaced, scratching his chin in thought as he tried to make sense of this revelation.
"The ROCC absorbs and stores evil…" he said to himself. "But…what is the evil it stores?"
"It's an impossible question," Tekno spoke up. "Looking on both sides of a conflict, you'll see everyone pointing to their opposition as evil. To put it simply, evil is a broad and subjective topic that changes depending on who you ask."
"She's right," Georgette replied. "What one person thinks is good or evil may be completely different from what you think is evil. In some of the more savage parts of Artika, it's considered perfectly acceptable and even morally just to abandon or kill a crippled or invalid family member."
That got shocked expressions from everyone.
"Seriously!?" Rotor exclaimed. "That's…that's horrible!"
"To us," she continued. "But back there, where food was scarce, weather was horrid, and wild beasts and other tribes could attack at any moment, they were a liability and needed to be put down to ensure the rest of the tribe could survive."
"It's like back home with the one-child policy," Kat recalled. "There was a time when Chun-nan was so overcrowded that a law was passed forbidding a household to have more than one child. Families were so desperate for their bloodlines to continue that if a daughter was born… she would be killed. They didn't see it as evil, only necessary."
"And that's not even getting into all the controversial issues in the news," Chris picked up. "Stem cell research, abortion, human experimentation, immigration, the death penalty…even things like freedom of speech have a murkier side. While the arguments can be made for their benefits, there's no hiding the dark side of them."
"Geez…" Rotor whispered. "This talk went downhill fast."
"The point is if we as living beings can't give a solid definition as to what evil is…" Sherman turned toward everyone. "Then how can a man-made machine make that distinction, let alone magically make it all disappear?"
Jules and Amadeus looked at their friend in shock.
"Sherm…" Jules whispered.
"That has to be the most profound thing you've ever said," Amadeus let out.
"Hey, I didn't always zone out whenever Julie started talking smart." He let out a loud belch. "Heh, 'scuse me."
As everyone in the entire room mulled over this, Keith was sitting down, deep in thought.
"Keith, you alright?" Chris asked.
"You look like you've got something on your mind," Hope added.
"I just…" Keith took a breath. "That whole conversation about the ROCC reminded me of an incident at work my dad told me about."
Chris blinked. "Uncle Sam? What happened?"
"It was a couple years ago," Keith began. "Dad and the rest of the Speed Team were going after a biker gang led by this real piece of crap iguana…I think his name was Antonio or something. Anyway, they were a real nasty bunch. They beat people up for kicks, extorted money from local businesses, left the toilet seat up, and they drove like crazy. Like, going 65 in a school zone crazy!"
"Wow…" Kat let out.
"Yeah, well Dad and the others were dispatched to deal with them and got them in a huge chase on Speed Highway. They caught them when they were halfway down the road."
"Nice!" Sonic chimed in. "Sounds like another day at the office for Sam."
"Except he didn't actually catch them," Keith continued. "The bikers just stopped their vehicles and just turned themselves in."
That threw everyone for a loop.
"Seriously?" Sonic asked.
"Seriously!" Keith repeated. "And that's not the weird part! The entire time they were being taken to the station, the bikers just kept talking about how sorry they were for their crimes and how they 'needed to atone'."
"Sounds like they had a sudden…what's the word… epiphany?"
"Right after they cursed at and insulted my dad and tried to run him and countless pedestrians off the road while DUI five minutes earlier?" Keith shook his head. "Uh-uh, no. I even remember that Dad said they had this…really creepy look in their eyes. Like, they were glassy and vacant, like a corpse. And they had these big, fake, Meh Burger cashier smiles on their faces. (2)"
He did his best to replicate said smile, unnerving the others.
"Okay, yeah, that is weird," Sonic said.
"It gets weirder. When they put the thugs in the holding cells, a lot of the other crooks they'd arrested were acting the same way as them! All of them!"
"Just like GUN…"
"Hope?" Sonic asked.
"I read about it in one of the archives at Area 99. Several of the prisoners and even a good portion of the agents were acting the same way as the ones in Keith's story. Even Rouge was acting weird!"
"Rouge too!?"
Hope nodded. "Tower said it was the most disturbing thing he'd seen since Kodos' trial. And then, people started getting sick."
"Sick?"
"Many of the 'atoners' started showing signs of extreme lack of energy. They were always tired or didn't have any motivation or drive. Some of them even just sat there at their desks, staring into space and moaning like zombies!"
"Gài yǎ de zǔzhòu…" Kat whispered under her breath, looking horrified.
"You too, Kat?"
"Guy ya…wha?" Knuckles asked.
"Gài yǎ de zǔzhòu, or Gaia's curse. It's something my mother was terrified of after watching the news. She said that the West had angered Light Gaia, forcing them to place a curse on the 'sinners'. She was terrified that it was a sign of the Time of Awakening, that the world was out of balance. It got so bad that we would go to the temple every day to pray and beg for forgiveness and mercy." Kat let out a mirthless laugh. "I think she would have preferred the curse, given what happened a month later."
"What are you…?" Sonic froze. "Wait…are you talking about…Kat, when did all this start?"
Kat shook her head. "I'm not really sure. All I really remember was that the news switched from Gaia's curse to Eggman. Then a month later…"
"Eggman invaded Shengcun…" Sonic finished. "When was the raid?"
"That I remember." Kat turned away, clutching her arm. "It was the Winter Solstice. December 21, 3225."
"December 21, 3235…" Sonic repeated. "One month before would be November 21st (3)… the day of Eggman's first attack… the day of the ROCC Incident!"
The sound of broken glass echoed through the room. Everyone turned to see Uncle Chuck standing in the doorway, a look of horror on his face.
"Oh Aurora…" Chuck whispered. "No…"
"Uncle Chuck?" Sonic asked as he approached. "What's wrong?"
"I…" Chuck backed away slowly. "I-I…"
He slumped over, clutching his chest as he started hyperventilating; sweat pouring down his face in buckets.
"Uncle Chuck!"
"Chuck!"
Sonic and Jules bolted toward Chuck, grabbing ahold of him in an attempt to calm him down.
"What have I done?" Chuck asked, looking down at his hands. "Dear Aurora, what have I done!?"
"Easy, Chuck, calm down!" Jules soothed. "It's going to be okay…"
"No, it's not!" Chuck tore himself out of his brother and nephew's grip and ran off.
"Chuck, wait!" Jules called out.
Sonic, however, wasted no time and ran after him.
-X-
Chuck retreated to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. He made his way to the sink, turning the water on full-blast and splashing some in his face. Once he'd moistened it enough, he looked up in the mirror and saw his reflection; saw the dark circles and bloodshot webbing in his eyes.
"You did it again," he told himself. "This is the second time you've nearly doomed us all, you stupid, old fool!"
Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the door, startling him.
"Uncle Chuck!" Sonic called out. "Uncle Chuck, are you okay!? Say something!"
"Sonic…" he whispered as the door opened, revealing his concerned nephew.
"Uncle Chuck, what's going on?"
"I-It's nothing, Sonny," Chuck said dismissively. "I'm just…tired."
"Uncle Chuck," Sonic grabbed his uncle by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "You are not just tired and you are not okay. I know you aren't because the last time you got like this was when the Roboticizer was still around."
Chuck winced at the mention of the accursed machine he'd built, the other cursed machine he'd built
"Sonic…"
"Chuck…"
The two turned around to find Sonic's parents had caught up to them, both looking worried.
"Jules…Bernadette…"
"Chuck, are you alright?" Jules repeated.
"I'm…I…" At that, Chuck could no longer contain himself and broke down. "No…No, I'm not…I've done something terrible…"
Chuck's family pulled him into a hug as he softly wept.
"Unc, it's okay," Sonic soothed. "Whatever it is…"
"It's not okay, Sonic," Chuck interrupted. "What I've done…what we've done, is by far the single, most horrible thing in the history of Mobius!"
"We?" Jules asked.
"Is this about that meeting with Dr. Morgan?" Bernie asked. "With Chuck Thorndyke and Professor Pickle?"
Chuck nodded.
"What happened?" Jules asked.
"I can't…" Chuck sniffled. "I can't say. If someone were to find out about this, countless lives would be ruined."
He pulled out a handkerchief and blew his nose.
"But I have to tell somebody. If I don't…I may surely go mad!"
"Then tell us," Sonic suggested. "We swear, whatever it is, we won't repeat it to a soul."
Chuck looked at his family and thought. He thought about the last time he had found himself in his position and the consequences that followed when he dealt with them. He thought about the potential ramifications that confessing to his actions would bring about. Finally, he thought about the potential ramifications of not confessing to his actions. And that was enough.
"Very well," he began eliciting smiles from his family. "But not yet…not here…"
At that, he pulled out his smartphone and dialed a number. A few seconds later, someone picked up.
"Nate, it's me…" Chuck began. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't do it. I can't keep Sonic and the others in the dark. They've been suspicious as is. One way or another, they were going to find out. We have to tell them the truth."
"Truth?" Bernie asked.
"Uncle Chuck, what are you talking about?" Sonic asked. "Tell us what?"
Chuck looked Sonic right in the eye.
"The true purpose of the ROCC."
Author's Note:
(1): Pardon me.
(2): Think like the mind-controlled chickens in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
(3): November 21, 1992, the day Sonic 2 came out. Would have gone with June 23, the date Sonic 1 came out, but we already chose that date for Sonic's birthday.
Yikes. It appears the ROCC had darker implications than anyone thought. Stay tuned, and brace yourselves as Sonic and his friends learn the awful truth...
Please R&R. Until next time!
