- Chapter 10 -

Star Light, Star Bright

Mobotropolis, Royal Hills Zone

In a quaint little house near the center of town, Uncle Chuck sat down with Sonic's parents, Jules and Bernie Hedgehog, to coffee, as well as to explain his next course of action. Unsurprisingly, Jules was less than pleased to hear his intent.

"You can't be serious, Chuck," Jules let out. "You're going to the Scrap Brain Zone alone?"

"I have to," Uncle Chuck insisted. "It's the only way."

"It's a suicide mission!" Bernie exclaimed. "If you go, there's no guarantee you'll come back!"

"If there's even the slightest chance that Julian can be redeemed-"

"You saw what he did at Castle Acorn," Jules cut in. "I'm sorry, Chuck, but Julian is gone for good."

"I have to at least try," Uncle Chuck said firmly. "Even if it's in vain, I have to hope Julian's still in there."

"Chuck, please," Bernie pleaded. "If not for us, then for Sonic."

Uncle Chuck sighed. "Jules, Bernie... it's not just that. I examined the scrap of the Swatbots and Badniks Sonic smashed before I came here. The designs, the schematics, they're all very close to... it."

Both hedgehogs went pale at that.

"No…" Jules managed. "No, that's impossible."

"I'm afraid so," Uncle Chuck confirmed. "I need to get to Julian before Sonic does. He'll be in way over his head if my theory's true."

"Let us come with you," Jules insisted.

"Jules is right," Bernie agreed. "You can't do this alone."

"No, Bernie," Uncle Chuck shook his head. "If the worst comes to pass, Sonic will need you two more than ever."

Jules sighed. "Is there really nothing we can do to change your mind?"

"No…" Uncle Chuck got to his feet. "If I don't return, tell Sonic… tell him to never stop running."

Giving in, Jules rose to his feet. He and Uncle Chuck grasped forearms and shook before embracing, patting each other's back.

"I love you, brother," Jules let out softly.

"And I you," Uncle Chuck replied. With that, he took his leave. "Just one last thing to do…"

Star Light Zone

Meanwhile, Sonic had exited the Frozen Zone and stood on the outskirts of the Star Light Zone, another human settlement on South Island that had been left derelict and abandoned after the Great War. It had fared better than the Scrap Brain Zone, but not by much; in recent years, it had become little more than a den of criminals and thugs that most other Mobians and humans made a point to avoid (1).

"The Star Light Zone," Sonic muttered. "Of course I gotta make my way through this rat-hole town to get to Robuttnik."

As he went in, he stole a glance at the starry night sky above him. "Still, I can't ignore that view. Wish Mobotropolis had such a good view of the stars at night."

Soon, however, Sonic's attention was caught by the sight of several egg-shaped humanoid Badniks, floating around and keeping a close eye on the various gangs running around the Zone.

"Well, that's ominous," he said flatly.

He quickly moved into a nearby alley as a few Eggrobos were conversing with one of the gangs. The leader, a Mobian rat, glared at the head Eggrobo.

"You really think we're just gonna take this lying down?" he spat. "I own this town, you hunk of tin!"

"Really?" the Eggrobo questioned, Robotnik's voice coming from its mouth. "You're nothing but a lowlife gangster, Nez. You fail to realize that the balance of power on South Island is shifting... to me."

Nez just scoffed at that.

"I helped bring order and law to this lawless Zone," Robotnik went on. "I don't have to remind you of the penalty for defying me, do I?"

Almost immediately, the smirk vanished from Nez's face, and several of his men recoiled.

"Nuh-uh!" one goon shouted. "Not after what happened to Gary! Do whatever you want! Order me around, even kill me! Just don't put me in the Roboticizer!"

The last part got Sonic's attention as Robotnik chuckled. "Now I think we understand each other. Obey me and follow my orders, and everything will be just dandy."

"Alright, fine," Nez grumbled. "So how can I be of service?"

"It's simple," the Eggrobo projected a hologram of Sonic, "this hedgehog has caused me more than enough grief as of late. I don't care how you do it or how long it takes, but you are to capture him and bring him to me dead or alive. Preferably dead."

Sonic immediately ducked back into the shadows at that.

"Okay, so Robotnik's basically got every crook in this Zone after me," he muttered. "And here, I was thinking this day couldn't get any worse. Still, if they wanna hurt me, they gotta catch me."

He sped off at that. Sadly, Nez's gang heard the rush of air as he dashed away, and turned toward the sound, the Eggrobo following suit.

"Well…" Robotnik mused, "it seems Sonic has arrived, right on schedule."

"We'll catch him," Nez assured. "I promise."

-X-

It wasn't long before Sonic stopped short, seeing a spotlight shining on him from above courtesy of an Eggrobo.

"Damn!" the hedgehog cursed.

"Stay right where you are, Sonic!" the Badnik shouted. "You're outnumbered and outgunned!"

"Oh, yeah," Sonic snarked. "I came all this way so I could just stand around and get shot at."

The Eggrobo suddenly began emitting a loud Klaxon siren, and soon multiple thugs began gathering. Looking left and right, Sonic quickly ducked into a nearby bar. Inside, a crocodile, a chameleon, and a child sized bee were talking to the bartender about something when Sonic came bursting in. They all turned in surprise to see him standing there.

"Aren't you a little young to be in here, kid?" the crocodile asked.

"Could say the same for your buddy there," Sonic said flatly, looking at the bee. "Besides, I won't be here long."

"And why is that?" the chameleon questioned.

As if on cue, the Eggrobo and thugs started pouring in.

"That's why," Sonic said.

"Just give in and come with us, Sonic," Nez ordered. "No need for this to get bloody."

"If you think I'm gonna go down without a fight, you're crazy," Sonic promptly snatched up a pool cue. "You wanna get nuts? C'mon! Let's get nuts!"

"Don't take it personally, kid." Nez told him. "We're just doing what we have to to survive."

A bar brawl soon ensued, but the thugs were woefully outmatched. Sonic sped around the thugs, defeating them in humiliating ways until they were all down (2). After a minute, he turned, seeing the crocodile, chameleon, and bee all staring at him from the bar.

"What?" he dared. "You want a piece of me too?"

"Nah," the crocodile replied. "But if you ever need a job, look us up."

He handed him a card, which Sonic took and looked over.

"Chaotix Detective Agency?" he read.

"That's us," said the croc. "Now, I suggest you scram before more goons show up."

"Couldn't agree more."

With that, Sonic sped off, but it wasn't long before more goons and Badniks were on his trail. Despite his best efforts, Sonic couldn't escape and was soon herded to the top of a tall building.

"It's over, Sonic!" Robotnik shouted through an Eggrobo. "There's nowhere for you to go. As fast as you are, even you can't fly!"

Sonic slowly backed toward the edge. "Maybe so, but I'll take my chances."

"What?" Robotnik questioned. "Do you plan to jump?"

"In a word: yes."

And thus, Sonic leapt off. Closing his eyes in resignation, he fully expected to hit the ground. However, he heard a loud screech, then sharp talons grabbed him by the shoulders, stopping his fall. He opened his eyes in surprise to see a Mobian owl having a grip on him, gently lowering him to the ground.

"I would think you'd get less reckless once you hit puberty, Sonic," she mused. "But some things never change."

Sonic gaped in surprise at the sight of the owl. This was Longclaw, a veteran of the Great War alongside his uncle and father, and at one point, his childhood nanny.

"Longclaw?" he managed. "What are you doing here?"

Longclaw gave him a teasing smile. "Is that any way to greet your old nanny?"

Sonic turned red before giving her a quick hug.

"Sorry, didn't mean to be rude. It's great to see you again, Longclaw. I just wasn't expecting to see you all the way out here."

"It's good to see you too, and to answer your question, I'm here at the behest of your uncle. He was worried about you and asked me to keep an eye on you."

"Uncle Chuck sent you?"

Longclaw nodded. "It seems you've managed to ruffle this Robotnik's feathers quite a bit."

"Tell me about it. Every crook in this Zone was after me. He's got them cowed into total obedience with something called the Roboticizer."

That got Longclaw's attention. "Impossible… Are you certain that's what you heard?"

"Positive. Do you know something about it?"

Longclaw quickly shook her head. "No. Nothing you need to worry about."

"Oookay…" Sonic managed after a minute.

"There are more pressing things to attend to right now. Charles has taken it upon himself to confront the doctor at the Scrap Brain Zone."

"What?!" Sonic exclaimed.

"He seems to believe he can get through to Robotnik. That Julian is still in there somewhere."

"Well, he's wrong." Sonic couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice as he spoke. "Dr. Kintobor died when the ROCC exploded, Longclaw. When we see Robotnik, we're not looking at the man he was. We're looking at the thing that killed him. He made that perfectly clear back in the Marble Zone."

"Maybe that's true, but Charles is determined to try."

"Then I have to stop him. Robotnik will kill him... or worse."

He immediately took off running, with Longclaw close behind.

Scrap Brain Zone

Meanwhile, Uncle Chuck had just arrived at the Scrap Brain Zone. No sooner had he crossed the threshold than he was surrounded by Swatbots, which parted to reveal Robotnik.

"Charles!" he greeted cordially. "So good to see you. You like what I've done with the place?"

"Julian, listen to me," Uncle Chuck pleaded. "You have to stop this. This isn't you."

He held out his hands in entreaty. "You've worked your whole life to help people. Please... what happened to the good man you were?"

"The weakling? The loser?" Robotnik scoffed. "He died at the blast in Station Square University. He died… and I was reborn."

"I don't believe that!" Uncle Chuck exclaimed. "There has to be some part of you that still remembers who you are!"

"Whether you believe it or not, it's true," Robotnik retorted. "Julian Kintobor doesn't exist anymore. Only Robotnik remains. Your nephew realized and accepted that, so why can't you?"

"Because I can't help but see my friend in you," Uncle Chuck replied. "Please, Julian. I'm begging you. Come back."

Robotnik's expression visibly softened for a few moments, before he brushed it off. "Sorry, Charles, but life is full of disappointment." He snapped his fingers and the Swatbots converged on Uncle Chuck.

"Julian, please," the old hedgehog begged, even as he was surrounded. "End this madness. It's not too late."

"That's where you're wrong," Robotnik replied solemnly. "I've come too far and invested too much work in this already, so I'll forge on."

Uncle Chuck took in his words, closing his eyes in resignation.

"Then I guess you were right," he said at last. "Julian Kintobor really is dead."

"And before long, you'll wish you joined him," Robotnik declared.

With that, Uncle Chuck was cuffed by the Swatbots, Robotnik leading them to his lab.

"Don't look so down, my friend," Robotnik said in fake kindness. "Sonic will be here soon, and we need to arrange a proper welcoming party."

Author's Note:

(1): Think like a Mobian Gotham City. Since barely anything exists on the origin and purpose of the Star Light Zone as it is, I decided to make my own interpretation of it.

(2): Yes, the bar fight from the live action movie.

The climax is approaching. Will Sonic be able to save Uncle Chuck from the wicked machinations of the evil Dr. Robotnik? Tune in next time to find out…

Longclaw is from the live action movie, and Jules and Bernie from the Archie comic. To explain why I decided to make Longclaw a Great War veteran like Jules and Uncle Chuck, she's noted in the official novelization of the movie to be descended from a noble line of warrior owls dedicated to maintaining balance for all living creatures. Her being Sonic's childhood nanny is a reference to how she raised him in the film.

Also, to Void Reader, you misunderstood what I said. It's only this first arc that adapts the first game where Sonic flies solo. After he beats Robotnik next chapter, he'll start assembling the Freedom Fighters.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Jules - Tony Oliver (Sōjirō Izumi from Lucky Star, Minato Namikaze from Naruto, Lancer from Fate/stay night)

* Bernie - Karen Strassman (Nanako Dojima and Aigis from the Persona series, Anna from Fire Emblem, Kallen Kouzuki/Stadtfeld from Code Geass)

* Longclaw - Megan Hollingshead (Scarlet Garcia from Sonic X, Shizune from Naruto, Villetta Nu from Code Geass)

Please R&R. Until next time!