Chapter 47: Found
Location: Los Andreas
One hour later…
The sound of traffic brought Sally back to consciousness, the pain in her head making her wish she was still out. Her brain felt as if someone was trying to drive a spike into it, which only intensified when she opened her eyes.
"Holy Moly!" the Chipmunk exclaimed, as she slowly pushed herself up into a seated position.
Massaging her temples caused the migraine to eventually subside, becoming little more then a dull throb. Cautiously glancing around her surroundings, Sally suddenly realized that she had been unceremoniously dumped on the banks of a small lake. It was a secluded area, one that was far from the main path and any potential of being stumbled across.
"Right. Looks like my kidnappers took my advice."
She had travelled to Backwater Station to meet with Tarro, only to find herself ambushed by a group of Mobian Haters. They intended to prevent her from speaking before the National Assembly, except her abductors lacked the conviction to follow through on their plan. Informed that the authorities would hound them, they had resorted to drugging and abandoning her.
"I suppose I should consider myself lucky that they didn't just kill me," she muttered, "Although that would've been a death sentence."
Surveying the area, Sally was unable to determine where she was, although she was certain that she wasn't in Capitol City. Climbing to her feet, she was immediately hit by a wave of nausea that almost emptied the contents of her stomach right then and there. Somehow, she was successful in keeping everything down, and eventually headed away from the area once she felt comfortable enough. Walking through the park, she didn't encounter anyone until she had stepped out onto the busy streets. A mixture of Terrans, Overlanders, and Mobians wandered along the sidewalks, going about their business. Coming across a newspaper box, Sally peered inside and discovered that there was a newspaper that remained inside.
"Los Andreas!?" she gasped in surprise, "They must've really not wanted me getting back easily."
The capitol of the Chau Sara province, it was the largest settlement in an underdeveloped region consisting mostly of farmsteads. Unable to determine where she should go, Sally glanced around and spotted a coffee shop that was located just across the street. Making her way to the end of the street, she crossed over and made her way inside the establishment. The interior was only sparsely populated, with a black cat wearing a loose-fitting purple dress, working the counter.
"Hello, welcome to the Groovy Train," she greeted, "Are you alright, you seem out of it."
"Oh! Um, do you have phone I can use?" Sally asked.
"Around the corner, near the washrooms," the feline replied.
Sally followed the instructions and found a pay phone located on a wall just opposite of the washrooms. Realizing that she had no money, the Princess slipped her index finger into the coin slot, finding a circular piece of cold metal inside. She realized almost instantly that what she had was a quarter, and immediately used it to make her call.
Location: Gwyrdd Island
That same time…
Touching down on the cobblestone, Bunnie watched as Sonic immediately leapt from the X-Tornado without waiting for it to land. Amy's pleading had fallen on deaf ears, and the blue Hedgehog was just itching for a fight. As Tails and Geoffrey disembarked, they discovered that Sonic had already made it halfway to the mansion.
"Sugah-hog, wait up," Bunnie urged.
Stopping, the Hedgehog began tapping his foot in irritation as he waited for his companions to catch up. Looking in the direction of the front door, Sonic discovered his metal doppelganger emerging from the building.
"Where is he?" the Hedgehog demanded.
"I'm sorry?" he replied, perplexed by what was going on.
"YOUR MASTER!"
"Uh…he's gone for a swim."
"I want to talk to him," Sonic demanded.
A look of confusion appeared on the robot's face, prompting Bunnie to step in and provide an explanation.
"Sally-girl's been abducted."
"Well, that's concerning," Shard muttered.
"Your 'Boss' summoned her to Backwater Station, where she was instead abducted," Sonic snarled, pushing past Bunnie.
"No, he didn't. If he wanted to meet with her, he would've sent me or Bokkun, and he certainly wouldn't have requested her to travel alone."
"General Mendenhall said that he contacted her," Geoffrey stated.
"Then he's either mistaken or lying. But if you don't believe me, Tarro will tell you himself."
Followed by the quartet, Shard led the Freedom Fighters to the far end of the estate down to a small dock. It was where the estate received supplies, rather then having someone venture over to Elsecaro.
"Well! Where is he?" Sonic demanded.
Before the renegade Metal Sonic could reply, Tarro suddenly heaved himself out of the water, wearing only a pair of scuba goggles. Everyone who was present immediately averted their eyes, caught off guard due to his nakedness.
"Ah! Dude, pants!"
"Whatever you say, 'Mr. Sneakers-and-Gloves'."
"And scarf, don't forget my scarf," he reminded, tugging on his neckwear.
"And you showed up uninvited."
Grabbing a towel from off the railing, the Saiyan promptly turned around and began drying his hair.
"What are you doing here anyways?" Tarro inquired.
"The Princess has been abducted," Geffrey stated, interjecting before his companions could get a word in.
"And I don't remember having invited you."
"They think you request Sally to meet you in Backwater Station."
"I'd send Shard or Bokkun to relay any messages, and I would never request that she meet me alone."
"That's what I said," sighed the robot.
"General Mendenhall said that you contacted her," Tails stated.
"Then he's either mistaken or lying. I never contacted her," he said, wrapping the towel around his waist.
Turning to face his guests, Tarro closed his eyes and shifted his attention to locating the wayward Princess' energy signature.
"Los Andreas? What the hell is she doing in Chau Sara?"
"Wait! How do you know?" Sonic asked, suspicious.
Before he could answer Tails' communicator beeped, prompting the twin-tailed Fox to answer it.
"Sally's been located," Chuck reported, "Whoever kidnapped her then abandoned her in Los Andreas."
Everyone immediately shifted their attention onto Tarro, who had crossed his arms over his bare chest.
"Everyone has a unique energy signature, and I can sense it."