Due to something that I didn't see or know about it but I had to dig and find the back up file for this story, there was a missing section near the bottom and due to time constraints, I've been forced to do only a quick fix. So here's the fixed version, but don't expect any huge grammar fixes, I don't have time to go though everything, I just wish I could.

-

Episode 2 : Shattered Freedom

Great forest

Knothole

Small streams of sunlight pierced through the thick forest canopy as the morning sun began to rise, It's life giving glow a welcoming sight to the awakening inhabitants of the secluded village.

For the villagers, the day was beginning just like any other, the people where ready to go about their daily activities, unaware of the events of the previous night, that had come to past.

In Princess Sally's hut rays of light shined through the window of the quaint domicile, illuminating the room with it's warm glow.

Sally was laying in her bed, the sun reflecting off her metal body as she slowly began to stir.

Her eyes opened lazily, as a soft blue glow emanated from her pupils as she awakened,bold green text scrolled across her vision showing various system checks and status screens as her body 'woke up'.

'SYSTEM OK' flashed in bright green neon letters as her optics reverted to their default setting.

"Ok?, anything but!" Sally thought bitterly as she rose from her bed, her joints and servos creaking and twisting as she stretched out.

Last night had been mostly a blur to her, the battle with the slave had taken a lot out of her and even after being in stasis(the robian equivalent of sleep) she still felt drained, both physically and emotionally.

The events by the lake however where still vivid in her mind, the words of her love, still echoing in her thoughts.

"You're still the most, way past cool gal I've ever met and that makes you beautiful."He had said to her as they embraced under the moonlight, that moment of affection they shared with each other was something she would never forget.

With an metallic sigh, Sally walked over to her dresser, the wooden planks of the hut's floor creaking with each step.

Opening the drawer, She pulled out a blue vest, it's appearance was exactly the same as the one she had lost in Robotropilis.

"Hope it still fits." She thought to herself as she began to put it on.

Looking at herself in her dresser mirror, she was surprised that the vest still fit her reasonable well despite the changes due to her robian form.

It was then that her focus shifted from her attire to her actual body, last night she was so filled with sorrow and rage that her robian body was nothing but an ugly shell she wanted nothing to do with.

After waking with a much clearer head, it gave her time to take in her new look throughly. Her coloring was no different from her normal form, with the major difference being she was covered in metal rather then fur.

Her face looked very close to her original form's, with the exceptions of visible seams that ran down across her cheeks where the metal plating intersected with one another. The irises of her eyes where a pitch black with her pupils glowing a light sky blue, almost exactly the same color as her real eyes once were. Her hair was still scarlet colored, but instead of hair, it was now a series of flexible metal fibers, which strangely were able to bend and move in a similar fashion to her original hair, yet still held a rigid form as she brushed her metallic bangs from her face to get a better look at herself.

The proportions of her body where mostly unchanged, with the only visible changes where her chest, waist, and hips where segmented at various points; most noticeable in areas that allowed her to bend and flex her body.

Her legs below her knees was covered in blue colored metal that became wider as it came down to her ankles, her boots had been integrated into the design of her legs, the heels of which where elevated, making her slightly taller.

"Hmmm..I guess it will have to do." She mused to herself, still having trouble coming to terms with her robian form. And on that thought, Sally left her hut and walked down the grassy walkway towards rotor's workshop

-

Knothole

Rotor's Lab

"All right sugah hog, now y'all got ta be patient with this one." Bunnie said as Sonic carefully flexed his metallic fingers around a tin can.

He then let out a low growl of frustration as he accidentally crushed the can, with his vice-like grip. It was then that rotor walked in , carrying a box of various scrap parts and machinery.

"So how's the training going?" he asked curiously while setting down the box on his workbench.

All the response he got from sonic was a sideways glance and a rather annoyed look that clearly read 'what do you think?' as Bunnie smiled apologetically to rotor.

"Well Sugah, It's been rather slow goin, but I reckon he'll get the hang of it."

Sonic let out an deep sigh as he leaned against the chair he was sitting in.

"How the heck am I even suppose to use these things? It feels like I'm wearing a pair of oversize hockey gloves." He said, while raising his robotized arm up to add emphasis.

"Well, to be honest Sonic you have actually made a lot of progress since last night." Rotor said.

"It just seems that as far more delicate movements are concerned you just gotta take it a bit slower."

Sonic looked up at the walrus with one of his trademark smirks.

"You know that slow has never really been my style Rotor." he said with a hint of humor behind his voice. Both rotor and Bunnie sighed in response to the hedgehog's snarky comment.

"Yeah we know." They said in near unison.

It was then the the sound of metal footsteps caught their attention as they turned around to the door way.

"Good morning guys." Sally said as she walked up to the trio, it was then that she noticed the rather large pile of crushed cans on the floor near Sonic and Bunnie.

"Oh don't worry about that Sal," Sonic said as he noticed the puzzled look on her face.

"Just been getting practice on how to control these." he said as he lifted his hand and flexed his metal digits.

Sally nodded, "I see."

Though from what she could tell It looked like he still could use some more practice. Bunnie walked to her friend and placed her robotic hand on the side of her shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

"How ya doin Sally girl? Ya feelin alright?"

Sally softly smiled at the her friend's concern, apparently her new look did little to effect the sweet rabbit girl's kindness.

"Well I would be lying if I said I was fine, but I am feeling a whole lot better since last night." She said.

"Glad to hear, y'all gave us quite a scare last night during that whole data dive thing." Bunnie said as Rotor walked up to Sally with Nicole in his hand.

"I believe this belongs to you." Rotor said as he handed her the small personal super computer.

"Thank you Rotor, I appreciate you taking care of her while I was asleep." She said as she unfolded NICOLE and activated it.

"It's no trouble at all Sally, just glad I could help out is all." The walrus said as he walked back to his work bench.

"Good morning Sally." The small computer chimed, her voice was surprisingly more lively then it had ever been.

"Rotor? Did you do any programing to NICOLE while you had her, she seems different."

Rotor looked up at Sally from what ever device he was tinkering with and said "No Sally, but she has been acting strange since last night."

Before Sally could respond a metal crunching sound came from the corner of the room.

"Now sugar hog, you did good there until you tired to catch it."

"Ugh," Sonic complained. "This is way past uncool."

He then dropped the can with the rest of it's ruined brethren. Turning once more to the box full of empty cans, he picked up another ready to try again with the exercise Bunnie had him doing.

"Okay, one more time." Bunnie said watching Sonic to do another delicate maneuver with this hands and the can.

Sally decided to ignore Nicole's strange behavior for now and focus on more important matters.

"Rotor, where's uncle Chuck?" The metal princess asked the walrus.

"He's still fiddling with the parts from the robotisizer, he said that he was trying rig up something." As Rotor said, another crunch could be heard from Sonic, the two paid it little heed as he continued. "Mostly right now he's having me get parts from the shed for the rig."

Rotor then walked to the back of the lab where a curtain was hiding it, he then walked behind it, and Sally could see Chuck working on a platform.

Curiosity got the better of Sally as she followed the walrus behind the curtain, there she saw Chuck welding something on the outside of the platform.

Sally's noticed suddenly as Chuck was welding, he wasn't wearing a welder's mask, but then a little icon in Sally's vision suddenly appeared that looked like a sun crossed out with a red X. The reason for this became apparent when the blinding light from the welder suddenly came on and it didn't blind her, the room dimmed almost to full darkness while the area around the welding was viewable. Once Chuck stopped, her vision became normal once more.

This would continue for three more times until Rotor interrupted the elder robain.

"Got those capacitors and breakers you asked for uncle Chuck." Rotor said putting the box of items on a bench near the machine.

"Thanks Rotor." He said.

"Uncle Chuck? What are you doing?" Sally asked him, the older robain looked to the younger one.

"Well, last night's events got me thinking."

"about what?" sally said as Charles picked up a data-pad that was on a workbench beside the unfinished device.

Charles walked over and handed her the pad."About the SLAVE engine" he said as he pointed on the screen

Sally felt a chill crawl up her robotic spine as she stared at the digital representation of the now infamous program on the data-pad's screen.

"From what I witnessed last night, theres no possible way for the freedom fighters to continue carrying out our standard operations with this thing out in the field, not to mention that with these combat robians patrolling Robotropilis, it's going to make us have to completely rethink our strategies" Charles said solemnly.

"That still hasn't answered my question as to what your building here" Sally said as she walked over to the device in question, taking a closer look at it.

Charles stood with a thoughtful expression, as if contemplating a very difficult decision, a expression that Sally certainly took notice of as she stood up from examining the unfinished equipment she had been overlooking.

"what is it?" she ask, concerned as she saw the elderly robian was struggling with what must have been something troubling.

Charles looked up at the robian princess as he took a deep sigh "Sally, I'm sure your familiar with the term fighting fire with fire correct?" he said, his tone turning very serious

Sally nodded in response, wondering what he was getting at.

"for years I have had to live with the guilt of what my invention has done to this world, but now after seeing what Snively has created I don't think there is any other alternative to combat this new threat" Charles said as he looked at the uncompleted device, concern in his eyes.

For a moment sally was still confused, but then it suddenly dawned on her, a look of surprise on her face as she looked at Charles and then at the machine.

"You're building a robotisizer? Why?" She asked him.

"Two reasons really," He sighed taking a moment to think again to him self the justification he had in the first place. "The first one would be to continue the original intent of making it a medical tool, Heaven knows we may just need it thanks to Snively upping the stakes of everything.

It was then he took a moment to think over his second reason with it being more for him self then anything. "The second is if we're going to have any hope to beat him, we might be forced to play him at his own game, but not without an edge. Which is why I'm building a robotisizer that can de-robotisize someone it already has robotisized."

"Can we use it on us?" She asked with a glint of hope, but noticed the pain in his eyes when she asked.

"I'm afraid not. You, Sonic, Bunnie, me, or anyone else that hasn't been in this one can't be reversed." He said picking up on the meaning of what she said. "The best I can do however is use it on my self or Bunnie to upgrade our selves. One thing I have to make note is that even if I fully robotisize Bunnie or Sonic, when changing them back their limbs will still be robotisized."

"I see," She said looking down,disappointment in her eyes.

"Listen Sally," Chuck said putting both hands on her shoulders and having her look at him.

"There's still a chance to get this to work on de-robotisizing you and Sonic, but it is a horribly slim one, even so I won't give up trying even if it looks like we may be stuck this way forever."

"Its Okay, I just wish we didn't have to do it this way." She said, looking away from Chuck and to the Robotisizer.

"I'm sorry it has come to this." Chuck said and he pulled her into a hug, "Can you ever forgive this old fool for the evil that he's brought on our world?"

"Oh Chuck." She said back felling the tears coming from him, Rotor at this point had made himself scarce deciding to check on Sonic and Bunnie to let them have their moment.

"There's nothing to forgive, you had no idea your work would be used like this or end up doing this to both of us, and I can live with this if it means saving our people."

"You don't know just how much that made this old man's soul feel better." Chuck said to her.

Sally smiled softly"You'll figure it out, I'm sure of it." She said to him, then a thought crossed her mind, "Chuck? Can this robotisizer free someone of the SLAVE engine?"

Wiping away a tear from his face he looks back at the data pad still in hand. "That's the one piece of good news I have for this, we might be able to override the program with one of our own. Thanks to the data from both the SLAVE engine and the subroutine Nicole got us, we might be able to free someone with this, or install a version of our own SLAVE engine as a kind of antibody program to prevent anyone from being made into a Combat Robian for Snively."

Looking at a image of 'Doggie' on the data pad with stats and points of data, sort of made the one in her come out of her subconscious if only for a second and retreat back in. Strangely enough, the action of the one in her acting cute matched up with the action of the one in the data pad, made her smile slightly.

"So do you really think that this could actually work?" She looked up with renewed hope.

"It might be the only shot we get, if we can bring them back to the rig. However the most likely scenarios would be more of the 'on the field installation' of our own software with you having to carry and install it into someone, but you will be able to do it fine thanks to Nicole."

"Thank you Sir Charles." The computer spoke up in Sally's hand in a far less monotone voice as of late.

"Uh, you're welcome Nicole. Anyways, I need to do some testing and figure out what is the best set up for this to work. Run some simulations later with Nicole's help, but if all goes well princess, we might have a weapon to use in our fight against Snively."

"Okay," She spoke nodding with reluctant approval to the plan, then she noticed Nicole in her hand and remembered about the holster she used to have in her boot, and the one in the vest she lost being the only one with the safety strap for her. "Oh no, I forgot about that."

"Forget what?" Chuck asked.

"The holster that I had for Nicole in my vest and on my boot." She said as she opened her vest.

"This one doesn't have the strap to keep Nicole in it. The one back in Robotropolis was my last vest with one."

"Sally, if I may." Nicole spoke up. "There might still be one on your boot, although a much different one."

"Nicole, my boots are my feet now, the hostlers are gone." Sally pointed out.

"That is my point." Nicole said, then added, "They were integrated into you, I found this out when I was talking to your intelligence aspect, you need only think about it."

Looking at uncle Chuck, who just shrugged, Sally did as instructed by closing her eyes and imaging her holster for Nicole, it was then that she felt an odd pop on her right calve and looked down to see a panel had opened up.

The slot open outward and then slid down slightly on a twin hinge system that was mounted on the right and left sides of the access port, the port itself then split vertically to allow Nicole to be stored.

"Whoa," Sally replied.

"Just close me up and then insert me, there should be a push-in lock and release mechanism." Nicole said.

Sally did as she was told. Once Nicole was placed there the port closed back up and the slot retract back into her leg rather quickly.

Within a second of the panel closing Sally felt a sudden rush as if she felt very light headed, but that would soon pass, some numbers and information in her H.U.D passed by rather quickly and a small window opened up with Nicole's mobian form on it.

"Hi Sally." The smiling lynx said while waving to her.

"Well, this is sort of convenient." Sally spoke, waving back.

"Why did you just wave to me?" Chuck asked with a puzzled look.

"One moment Sally, there's one other option you have thanks to me being integrated with your systems." Nicole's window then disappeared from Sally's view, and then a square holographic window opened up between both her and Chuck with Nicole in it. "Now how is that? Better?"

"Well I'll be." Chuck spoke with surprising excitement.

"Nicole, how are you doing that?" Sally asked, at once noticing that the hologram was not wavy or slightly distorted as it normally would be.

"It is simple Sally, by combing our systems, I can use your body as a kind of booster for my holographic projector, you have several subsystems in you that let me take advantage of my projector and put out a more effective display.

"Nicole," Chuck pointed out, "How am I hearing you?"

"That would be the hard-light feature that I was able to adapt with my systems. I can make the hologram vibrate ever so slightly to allow for sounds and I can pick up sound and other types of vibrations that come into contract with the projection. Bypassing the need to use Sally's senses and freeing up it's use for other needs."

"That's Amazing." Sally said with awe.

"The truly amazing part is that your subsystems allows for a full 360 degree projection from your body because of key locations that also allow for the projection of holograms, but visually I'm still dependent on Sally's eyes to see the normal spectrum."

With that, Nicole shut down the window but the two could still hear her.

"I need to run compatibility tests on my self to see how much I am able to interface with you Sally, I'll be here if you need me, just call out to me with your mind, I'll hear it." Nicole's voice still heard by Chuck.

"Well, I can say at least something good has come of this." Chuck said impressed by this event.

Suddenly there was a bang from outside the door to the lab.

"Princess, are you in there?" The voice of Griff shouted to them. "Please, we need to see you."

Sally was about to answer when she felt Chuck's hand on her shoulder. "Wait, let us deal with this, you stay here. We'll brake it to them easy and then you can show them."

"Okay," She said with some hesitation, Chuck nods in response and then went past the curtain with Rotor following.

Sonic and Bunnie didn't move from their spot, as they continued working on his training, no one could blame them if you where around when Bunnie was learning to reuse her limbs.

However Chuck wasn't there when it happened and muttered about 'Those two....' that no one payed it any mind. Getting to the door, he took a short breath and exhaled, then opened it.

There stood Lupe, Ari, and Griff with two of the others that came with the group during yesterday's re-con mission into robotopolis.

"We heard from these two about what happened," Ari said as he barged in, but stopped and starred in disbelief at Sonic sitting on his stool , the ram's eyes fell on the hedgehog's metallic limbs. "So it is true?"

"Yes Ari." Sally spoke coming out from behind the curtain, the shock on Ari, Lupe, and Griff's faces was evident.

"Oh no." Griff said,sadly as he walked in looking at the now robotized princess.

"Princess," Lupe said solemnly as she looked at Sally, "I'm so sorry, I should have been there to support you.."

Lupe walked up and hugged her, Sally slowly but carefully returned the hug, taking care not to exert to much pressure. Even though she could still feel to a slight degree, the roboticization had left the majority of her senses particularly numb, Sally figured it would take a good while for her to get used to the rather incovenant adjustments.

"Snively is going to pay for what he's done to you." Ari said angrily as he punched his fist into his palm.

Sally looked towards the three, appreciative that they still saw her as a leader and their friend, hoping that when the time came the residents of knothole would be just as understanding. But for now there was more pressing matters to discuss.

"There no point in second guessing, all we can do now is move forward. Right now we've got to plan for what Snively is going to send our way." Sally said as she let go of Lupe and took a step back.

"That's kind of what we came to talk to you about." Griff spoke up.

The young cat from yesterday spoke up. "Paul came up to us this morning, it's Marcus, he's stirring up trouble again.".

"Yeah, we didn't say anything, just like Antoine told us not to." The bird from yesterday said. "But we think he may have overheard us talk about something."

"well that just fantastic." Sonic said sarcastically, "What does that jerk want this time? I swear, he's almost as bad as Butttnik."

"Sonic, please." Sally spoke up. "He may be a jerk, but he is a genius when it comes to keeping our provisions from running out, plus he's the only one in Knothole besides Lupe and her pack that can hunt or trap wild game for meat."

"Still doesn't make me not want to throw him over a cliff." Sonic complained.

"Well, If not for him getting the meat, you wouldn't have anything for your chilly dogs but empty buns." Sally pointed out.

Sonic just grumbled, but went back to his training session.

"Anyways," Griff said.

"Marcus is demanding answers for what happened yesterday. He's already got my Lieutenants, in a huff."

"Wonderful, and knowing how hard it was to get him to accept me in this village, I don't want to think about what he's going to say about you." Chuck said figuring what might happen.

"He's got that grudge on you to start with and then there is his influence with some of the villagers."

Sally let out a frustrated sigh."God, there's only one thing I can do." she said putting her hand over her forehead. "And I don't think anyone here is going to like it."

-

Knothole

War alcove

The central hall was buzzing with activity as the knothole's residents assembled, all chatting with each other, wondering what was so important that the entire village had to be informed.

"Hey Marcus, do ya have any idea whats going on?" a male raccoon said to a German Shepperd across from him.

"beats me" Marcus shrugged "Maybe it has something to do with robotropilis."

"But isn't it safe to go back to the city now that Robotnik's gone?" a female cat spoke up to the two.

Various chatter continued throughout the hall until rotor walked in followed by Bunnie and Antoine, the room turning silent as the three freedom fighters made their way to the front of the crowd.

"*ahem* Um.. I know a lot of you are probably wondering why we have called you all down here" rotor said as the crowd listened, though some where rather confused as to why rotor, the village mechanic was addressing them rather then princess sally.

"We feel that it is important to inform you all of the events that transpired last night during a recon mission to Robotropolis" rotor said, as both Antoine an Bunnie looked on, a anxious look on their faces as they watched the crowd's reactions. It was then that the three began to be bombarded by questions from various people from the group.

" Is it safe to go back to the city?", "is Robotnik really dead?", "why isn't princess sally here informing us about this?" were just a small number of various questions being addressed to the group of freedom fighters.

Rotor steeled himself as he continued to address the crowd.

" to answer a few of you questions, No Robotropolis is not safe, and from what we can tell Snively has taken control of the city in Robotnik's place" he said as the crowd gave a collective gasp.

"Didn't you say that this war would be over once Robotnik was beaten?", Marcus said to the group, anger rising in his voice"and now your telling me we have to deal with another tyrant!?" Various people in the crowd also began to express thier displeasure at the situation as they began to yell at the three mobians in front of them.

Rotor began to speak up again "It isn't that simple, you see we..." but before he could finish, Marcus interrupted "And where is the princess?, why isn't she here to tell us about this, to ashamed to speak to her people face to face?" Marcus said, his tone filled with contempt.

"Thats crossin the line, an't nobody gonna bad mouth sally girl, you hear me?" Bunnie shouted back to Marcus her own anger rising in her voice at the Shepard's comment.

"Calm yourself mademoiselle" Antoine said, while taking hold of Bunnie's robotic arm, just in case she did something rash.

"Humph. I'm just saying what most of us are thinking right now" Marcus said as he crossed his arms, a annoyed look forming on his face as he glared at the three of them.

"Listen Marcus" Rotor interjected "the reason sally isn't here because....she...she's been..." Marcus's eyes widened as rotor looked down, as if he was trying to find the right words to say.

"Been what?" Marcus asked, suddenly feeling a ping of guilt for his earlier outburst."is she dead?" he asked, slightly hesitating on that last word. Rotor looked up at Marcus, the crowd behind him was now muttering amongst themselves over the fate of their leader.

"No." he said with slight apprehension as most of the crowd to a collective sigh of relief, but where still puzzled at the walrus's hesitating manner, Marcus in particular.

" Then what?" Marcus demanded, looking into rotor's eyes.

"She's been robotized." a voice yelled out from behind the crowd.

Everyone turned around to see none other then professor Charles standing near the doorway of the alcove. "And thats not all" he said as he walked through the crowd, their faces etched with shock as the elderly robian made his way to the front of the crowd."My nephew, sonic has also been partially robotized, by a new form of the roboticizer that's more terrifying then anything any of us has encountered.

"So she's Snively's slave then?" Marcus addressed the robian, his face held a look of slight disbelief.

Before Charles could answer him, rotor spoke up "Uncle Chuck what are you...".

The robian raised his hand up to silence rotor. "This was sally's idea, figured she get this over with rather then prolong it any longer." he said.

"I couldn't agree more." another voice called back from behind the crowd near the alcove entrance.

Everyone turned once again to see sonic the hedgehog standing by the doorway, his metallic limbs gleaming in the sunlight.

"Sonic" rotor said, as the crowd looked at the now partially robotized hedgehog, collective mutterings emitting from them.

Sonic said nothing as he turned his head away from the crowd and looked to his side, his expression changing from one of confidence to concern.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" sonic said, as he continued to look towards the side of the doorway, the crowd becoming quite confused as to who he was talking to.

"I'm sure" a voice emitted near the doorway, the feminine voice sounded familiarr yet somehow slightly distorted by a metal echo.

The villagers gave a collective gasp as Sally walked into the alcove, with sonic right at her side, a supportive hand resting on her shoulder as she made her way towards the front of the crowd.

-

15 minutes prior

"Sal," Sonic complained. "You can't be serious about this."

"Sonic, people are going to want me to step down from leadership." Sally said with a sigh.

"Don't say that Sal, you've lead us through some really tough times, I can't see anyone else leading except you." sonic said his voice filled with concern.

Sally looked down towards the ground, a pained expression formed on her face.

"Sonic, none of them are going to want a robot for a leader, it just that simple" she said sadly.

"But uncle Chuck's a robian, and everyone gets along fine with him." sonic said, trying to argue his case.

"And how long did it take for everyone in the village to trust him sonic?" The azure hedgehog didn't respond at first as he just looked away from Sally, a thoughtful yet pained expression on his face as he sighed.

"Alright, but who's going to take over after you?" Sonic asked her.

"I've had a bit of time to think it over." She said quietly.

-

The room was silent save for a few whispers, as Sally stood before the crowd,

"I know a lot of you are probably thinking about my appearance, but let me state that I am not a danger to any of you" She said, hoping to quell the concerns of the crowd as they continued to gawk at the metal princess.

Marcus frowned at Sally's statement. "And how do we know this isn't some kind of trick to let our guard down." Marcus said bitterly as he sneered at the robian.

Charles stepped in between him and sally.

"We've already made sure that she's absolutely cleared of any kind of programing that would endanger any of the residents Marcus" he said, hoping to subside the Shepard's suspicions.

"hmph, and how do we know your not in on it? After all we all know how trusting you kind is" Marcus hissed, as he glared at the robian.

It was then sonic stepped forward, anger in his eyes.

"Cool it Marcus! You of all people should know how many times uncle chuck has helped us out" he said as he glared at Marcus

The Shepard sneered at the blue hedgehog.

"Figures you would try to cover for him, seeing as your the nephew of a scrap pile" he said as he crossed his arms.

"WHY YOU!..." sonic yelled as he tried to rush Marcus, only to have chuck and Bunnie hold him back.

"It an't worth it sugah hog." Bunnie said as she held onto his arm from behind as he raised his fist.

Chuck stood in front of sonic attempting to push him back.

"She's right sonny, Marcus is just trying to get a rise out of you." he said as he tried to reason with his now furious nephew.

Both Marcus and sonic exchanged in some rather colorful language as chaos began to erupt within the alcove as people from the crowd beginning to yell and shout as the whole scene threatened to boil over into violence.

"ENOUGH, ALL OF YOU!" sally shouted, her metallic echo enhancing her voice, as the crowd suddenly grew deathly silent.

Sally let out a deep sigh.

"Please stop, none of this is going to help with dealing with the threat at hand. Right now Snively is building an army of robian soldiers and here we are arguing over such nonsense."

she said solomny as both sonic and Marcus calmed down a bit.

"On the contrary princess, the nonsense your talking about is pretty important to the majority of us, namely the fact that none of us here are going to be lead around by some machine." he

said harshly as several people in the crowd agreed .

A pained expression formed on sally's face, that last comment had stung a lot harder then she thought it would.

Didn't they realized that she was still the same person she had been before her roboticization?

"You got a big mouth Marcus, maybe I should plug it up with my fist." Sonic hissed, as he began to approach Marcus, but was stopped by sally as she raised her arm in front of him.

Sally shook her head, a saddened expression on her face.

"Please sonic, just stop." she said quietly.

"But Sal, he.." Sonic was about to voice his anger, but Sally cut him off.

"Just drop it sonic." she said in a more forceful tone. Sonic stepped back, glaring at Marcus

Sally took a deep breath, a look of defeat on her face.

"Marcus makes a valid point, which is why, at this moment I now resign my position as leader of the knothole freedom fighters" she said sadly as her closest friends along with the crowd

gave a collective gasp.

-

Knothole

After the announcement

Sally and Sonic walked down one of the many pathways though the village, watching as several passer-bye's bowed before their princess and smiled saying good morning, but as they walked back to Rotor's lab they started to get one or two looks and a snub. These people, Sally could forgive for their reactions to her and Sonic, she felt responsibility for not being able to keep her promise to the others that she would get their home back, that she would get their families and friends all back alive, the promises she give everyone on her life that she wouldn't rest until she got everything back to the way it was.

"I still can't believe you named me as the leader." Sonic said walking along side Sally.

"It was the only thing I could do, as I said before, I'm compromised. If I tried to continue my leadership, the council would have overridden me, and who knows who they would put in my place." Sally spoke to Sonic.

"At least you are able to keep your seat on the council." Sonic tried to comfort her.

"Only because I'm the only one of the Royal blood line left here, and you have to take my seat as the leader of our Freedom Fighter forces." Sally countered, Sonic could only groan at the news.

"Don't remind me. I don't know how I'm going to handle staying in one place like that for so long." He complained.

"It's the price we all have to pay, we just have to do our best with this situation." She said, then added. "I just wish Antone didn't take it as hard as he did."

"I thought he took it pretty well," Sonic mentioned remembering the reactions of others when Sally gave her leadership to him, and Antone's response was beyond priceless. It took Sally ordering him to calm down and come back to her after the meeting to discuses it in more detail later.

"Besides you both have to help teach me about the tactics, at least he was gracious enough to accept the position."

"Yeah," Sally also remembered. "The only reason the council is being so compromising. I'm surprised mostly by Marcus' willingness to go with this."

"I don't like it." Sonic's weariness of the situation dripped from his voice. "He's up to something, I can feel it, and it's not the numbness of my hands and feet that I'm talking about."

"No point in worrying about it now, we're here." Sally pointed out to Rotor's home and lab, there was more sounds coming from inside as a familiar hum and whine of a robotisizer.

Walking inside Sally and Sonic could hear some argument between Lupe, Ari, and uncle Chuck.

"How can you be building this monstrosity?" Lupe said to Chuck.

"It's simple logic, unfortunately." Ari said coming to Chuck's defense. "I don't like it either Lupe, but in this case I can see why we're are going to go though with this."

"And what could possibly justify its' use?" Lupe asked rather harshly.

"As I said before to Sally, we may be able to use it. Not to deroboticize, at least not yet, however we can try and use it to free someone of Snively's control." Chuck said to the pack leader.

"Sir Charles, simulation number 3 complete, all results pass inspection and all systems are green." Nicole said from a computer she was hooked up into.

"Thank you Nicole." Chuck said to the computer, then turning back to the wolf. "Look, I don't like this any better then you, in fact I hate this more then anyone else in this village, but given what happened back in that city, we can't ignore or pass up on any advantage we can get."

"I take it things are not all sunshine." Sonic commented on the argument.

"Not in the least." The ram replied back. "I just wish things didn't come to this, we had finally rid our selves of Robotnik and end up with someone that is potentially worse. Just how could this have happened?"

"We underestimated Snively," Lupe said. "he went from being the hunter's apprentice, to out doing his master."

"What's done is done," Sally said. "What I want to know is what we are all going to do? And where did Griff go to?"

"He went to deal with his group," Lupe said, "which is something I should be doing, but I need to talk to you Sally."

"I'd like to ask you all to stay with me on this one?" Chuck said "Rotor, how are things are on your end?"

The walrus popped his head up from behind a large metal console as he pulled off his welding goggles.

"We're good to go, are you sure you want to do this?"

"It needs to be fully tested Rotor." Chuck said as he went over to the computer Nicole was hooked into and started to input some commands.

"What's going on?" Sonic asked everyone.

"He's going to re-robotisize him self." Lupe said with a bit of disgust. "I still think it is a very bad idea."

"Bad as it is," Chuck said walking to the robotisizer platform. "it is the only one we got at this point. Rotor?"

The walrus closed up the panel he was working on and pushed a button, he gave a thumbs up and said. "I really hope you know what you are doing."

"Uncle Chuck! Don't this this!" Sonic came up to him, remembering the two times he was witnessed his uncle being turned into a robot, not wanting to have to go through it a third time. "Please."

"I'm sorry Sonic. Listen," He walked off the platform and then grabbed his nephew's shoulders. "I know you don't like this, but I promise you, this is something that will help not just you or Sally, but the rest of Morbuis as a whole if I can perfect this device."

"But what about the risk?" Sonic asked him. He then went and looked Sonic square in the eye.

"This time, I'm taking the risk" he said solemnly as he looked at both sonic and sally, "I just can't stand seeing anyone else be hurt for my mistakes."

"This is wrong. We shouldn't be crossing this line." Lupe said as Chuck walked back on the platform.

"Lupe. We are at a point where we need to cross some kind of line." Chuck said to her. "And right now it's better we cross this line versus something later on we will all regret. Because as bad as this is, we may be forced to rely on it if we want to help free the others out there."

Lupe gave up and just looked to the ceiling with a look that spoke 'stubborn old fool,' but she held her tongue and just watched the events unfold. "Okay Rotor, Nicole. Start it."

With that, the machine began to warm up for a few seconds, and everyone braced themselves even if it was only Chuck in it. The event brought back bad memories for both Sally and Sonic, Chuck him self wasn't any better, remembering everything up to and after his roboticiztion.

Then it started. The metal of the elderly robian hedgehog's body started to both change color and look. His feet became something closer to Sonic's, his legs and arms also taking on a more refined look versus what it was before.

His original body coloring for his fur took over for the drab and dull shades of gray that was all over himself for near a full decade. His body also grew a few inches because of the changes, and finally his face became much closer to what it once was, his mustache becoming the same strands of steel like Sally's hair.

When it was all done, everyone held a collective breath, hoping beyond hope that uncle Chuck was still there.

The robian opens his eyes and looks at himself. "Well, that didn't hurt at all, not like the first time. How do I look?"

Everyone there breathed a sigh of relief when Chuck didn't go all mindless slave on them, even so, there was still decent. Chuck's body had gained back it's Sky Cloudy Blue color, his belly, arms, and mouth area had gained back it's tan color. However, his hands where still white from the the integration of his gloves into them, his feet had his old red with gold strip shoes made into their platform like form. Chuck's mustache and eye brows had went from a solid piece of metal into the the same steel fiber like state like Sally's hair.

His form was more boxy in some areas, he was wearing a belt like pouch item around his waist, and on his back looked like it held some kind of pack that was attached to his shoulders.

Rotor at this point just whistled at elder robian hedgehog's new look. "Wow. Looks like it worked better then expected."

"Sally, I need to speak to you right now." Lupe said frustrated as she grabbed Sally's arm and pulled her outside, once the door was closed Lupe turned to the princess and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Sally, I need to leave soon."

"What? Why?" Sally asked with a surprised look on her metal face.

"I've been talking this over with both my pack and with some of the others in the village council, and we've come to the agreement that after what that little worm did to you we're are not safe spread out like we are." Lupe said.

"But why are you leaving and with your pack, we will need all the able bodies we can get in this." Sally pointed out.

"That's the point Sally, we're not going to go and not come back. We've decided to pool our resources, consolidate everything and everyone, there are still more Freedom Fighters out there that will need to know what's going on, And other hidden villages like knothole that will need to be warned." Lupe saw the sadness in Sally's eyes as she said this.

Lupe knew her friend needed all the allies in her time of need, but right now the situation has changed and not for the better.

"Look Sally, we'll be back in a weeks time, we just need to get word out to the others and get our base in the canyon packed up and moved here. After what happened with Robotnik and now with Snively in power, it's only a matter of time before he moves on us all."

Sally only nods in response, takes a deep breath.

"Okay, but what about Griff? Snively must know by now about Lower Mobius, we can ill afford to let Snively capture anyone or the location."

"He told me that he's already gotten people in the remote tunnels outside the city with people extending them into the forest to evacuate them to Knothole and from there to set up a secondary base, possibly on what's left of Nimbus Island." Lupe said.

"Okay," Sally said. "Just promises me you'll be careful and you'll come back to us, and if anything goes wrong don't hesitate to call for help."

"I will." Lupe answered.

-

Knothole's supply hut.

In one of the underground storage rooms that connected to the supply hut, there was a meeting taking place. A meeting between about 35 mobians was starting in secret, the topic on hand, the robotisized princess Sally.

"Is this all of us?" Marcus asked as he looked over the crowd, "I thought there would be more."

A pig next to him spoke to him.

"This is short notice, yes, but we do have a few more getting things ready and 'convincing' others to our view in the matter."

Marcus didn't like the way the pig said it, but he wouldn't say anything at this point about it since he wanted to make sure he had the support of numbers, but still, on with the show.

"I gather you all know why you are here?" the German shepherd asked his fellow Morbians, they all nodded and Marcus continued. "Good, as you may know, the trip into Robotopolis failed...."

"Yeah? tell us something we don't know."A rabbit from the group said sarcastically

Marcus glared at the rabbit" Well if you let me finish I'll get to that." he said as he cleared his throat.

"I'm sure most of you are aware of the current state of affairs in knothole, what with the council electing a new leader for the Freedom fighters." "Which brings me to my next topic." "Princess Sally Acorn. "As long as she's here she's a threat to the entire village." he finished, a hint of distian in his voice.

A skunk spoke out from the group"Maybe but what can we do about it?, you heard what the council said she's been given amnesty like the other tin head" he said angerly.

It was then the pig that Marcus was conversing with earlier spoke up" You can leave that to me and Marcus here, I have a few people from Griff's band to help with that, even as we speak I got a few of my guys spreading the word around the village." he said with a smirk on his face.

Marcus frowned " you do realize Greggory that we need get the village to agree willingly, and not though intimidation" he said, suspicious of the pig's methods.

Greggory looked at Marcus a relaxed smile on his face

"Marcus, come on it's like ya said, as long as that walking scrap pile is still in the village none of us are safe, heck maybe we can get rid of the other metal head and maybe those two half-bots while were at it." he said.

Marcus glared at the pig

"Get this straight Greggory, we can't start parading around like some blood crazed mob, the point is to get the people to side with us so we can drive that metal freak out of our village, the others are to be left alone." he said angrily.

-

Knothole

Rotor's lab.

"WHOA!" Sonic shouted in his seat as his left foot rocketed for a second, the afterburner on the back of his robotized leg going off as Chuck was working with his new tools from a his belt and his arm as a few panels opened with readouts and data.

Both Sonic's feet had all their panels open and exposed, boosters on the back of his leg, extended, one of his feet had a few cables on it, the other being the one that made it look like Sonic was doing a Cancan kick from his seat open with more wires, some going into Chucks wrist.

"Sorry Sonic. Still getting used to this all." Chuck said as his left hand caught Sonic's foot as it came back down.

"You're not the only one uncle Chuck." Sonic Complained having to deal with the fact that he had to sit there and let his uncle mess with his robotic limbs because he needed to make sure Sonic's limbs where set right.

His uncle wanted to, in his words, 'Calibrate everything to insure safety' wasn't lost on him, but why the elder robian wanted to do this was something he couldn't figure out..

"Well, both my fears where confirmed and my suspitions validated on what you got." Chuck said.

"Well? Don't keep me hanging here." Sonic tapping his other foot.

"Well, as I said before last night," Chuck said as he pushed a button on his wrist and the panels without cables started to close, the rest following suit as Chuck pulled the wires out. "It seems that I was not only right about the Booster system, but you have some kind of mangnetic system that seems powerful enough to let you walk on a wall, not just run up it, possibly stand on a ceiling if they are metal. I also found a kind of hover system, from what I can guess it lets you float over the ground by a few inches, powerful enough to let you slow down a fall even. There's also a kind of weapons and slot system in there for some kind of item use possibly."

Sonic listened to what his uncle was telling him about his new parts and was both excited and scared, because he could do all kinds of things now then before and afraid of what Snively could do if he and Sally where in his control, still Sonic decided not to dwell on the negative and lean more to the positive about this..

"Whoa, way past cool, anything else?" He asked excited a bit.

"Yes, from what I can guess of the power output of this systems, you might be able to run as fast if not faster without the use of a Power Ring, with one I can't say, it scares me to think you might be going so fast you might go faster then your body can handle, which is where this comes in." Chuck said grabbing Sonic's hand and opening up a side panel and inserts a tool that comes out of his figure, suddenly the top of the forearm pops open.

"Seems you have your self a pretty nasty weapons system, but because you are not fully robotisized, you can only fire a few shots and let it recharge, which can take a while or you might be able to use a Power Ring, that is where the capacitors comes in."

Chuck then frowned as if he was looking at something wrong, Sonic picked up on it right away.

"Is something the matter?" Sonic asked.

"Yes, it would seem that it's inactive, and I can't bring it online. Might be due to insufficient programing, namely a form of control software or lack of a proper power source, and it looks pretty complicated." Chuck sighed. "Better not to mess with it right now, anyways, you seem to have some kinds of capacitors that if I'm right, let's your store energy from a Power Ring for long periods of time for later use. Beyond that I'm sure there's still more surprises left to be discovered, one thing I know for sure is that it seems your systems are waterproof."

"At least this will give us an edge over Snively." Sonic said.

"If only you could have brought a book or something about the events of the coupe and had come a few days if not weeks earlier when you came back in time all those years ago." Chuck said pulling his tool from the plug slot in Sonic's arm and the laser in his arm closed back up.

"You still remember that?" Sonic said.

"It's kind of hard to forget, and I especially couldn't forget you trying to bring me out of Robotnik's control then." Chuck sighed after his response.

"If we could only have, makes me wish I did do as Sally said when we came back." Sonic said as his face went from excited to saddened.

"Hey, I thought we had settled this before about that." Chuck said as he picked up tools and such. "I kind of remember the talk we had when we distoryed that huge diamond from ever being used by Robotnik."

"What?" Sonic asked confused.

"You know, our talk? Don't tell me you forgot." Chuck chuckled, "You're reacting just like then when I tried to warn you about your trip to the past but the programing reasserted it's self into me before I could say anything useful to tell you."

Sonic was confused, what talk was he talking about? It didn't make sense to Sonic as he was thinking back to that mission, recalling nearly everything said to him by his uncle the first time he was able to rescue him if only for a short while.

"Seriously, I don't know what you are talking about, I remember that day and we didn't have any kind of conversation about Sal and me going into the past with you." Sonic confirmed his response.

"Sonic, now what are you talking about? It was one of the few things we where able to talk about when we where alone for a few minutes when we did that mission." Chuck quickly countered.

"Uncle Chuck, we didn't, I should know. I remembered everything about that day and we never talked about that, we just talked about what we where suppose to do to get you out of there, that's it." Sonic said as he stood firm on his side of the events that took place, Chuck on the other hand puzzled face only deepened as he thought it though, then something clicked in his head.

"Sonic, when you went back to stop the coup, did anything change or happen differently then you remembered when you came back?" He asked Sonic.

"No, nothing...wait, there was one thing. Rosie." Sonic responded.

"Rosie? What do you mean?"

"It was when we got back." Sonic said remembering the event. "Sally had told Rosie not to leave Knothole ever. Because back about 4 or 5 years ago, she went to get medicine for one of us kids who got sick, but before she could get back Robotnik got her on the spot and we found her already robotisized on a mission. At the time he had some kind of Robotisization gun then, kind of makes me wonder why he didn't use that instead of the Doomsday now that I think about it."

This bit of information left the elder robian silent and deep in though. Sonic saw his uncle with a concerned look.

"Hey unk, you okay? Hello? Mobius to Uncle Chuck." Sonic waved his hand in frount of his uncle's face.

"Wha, oh, sorry, you got me thinking of one of Robotnik's old projects that I had the misfortune of being part of. I remembered something just now, it's about the same time, but Robotnik had taken a force into the Great Forest. He was combing the area for a test subject, me and some others where being made to put the gun together, but no one showed. However it begs the question, what else changed because of what you and Sally did."

But before Chuck could finish or add anything else, Sally came in with Lupe behind her.

"Hey Sal, everything okay?" Sonic asked as Sally came in with a serious look.

She then turned to Sonic and nodded.

"Yes, everything's fine."

"I need to finalize everything with Ari. I will talk to you later tonight about everything else." Lupe finished up with Sally and went over to the Ram who was pointing out something to Rotor.

"What's that about?" Chuck asked.

"She's taking her pack with her and leaving Knothole,for a few weeks." Sally said.

"Oh yeah, I heard from Ari about that, about time we put up a united frount, Lord knows we're going to need it now." Chuck said as he put the last of his tools away.

"Anyways Sonic, you're good to go, but take it slow for now, plus we need to finish our conversation later. There is a few more details we need to look at."

And with that he went back to work on the roboticizer."

"Chuck, do you still need Nicole?" She asked her elder robain.

"Yes, unfortunately. We're still going over the data of my test run and comparing it to the simulations. It might be later tonight I get her back to you."

"Okay, come on Sonic, we need to check on someone." She said turning to the partiality robotisized hedgehog.

"Who?"

"Who else, Tails."

-

Knothole

Bunnie's hut

Tails sat silently as he stared out of the window, a thoughtful, yet pained expression on his face.

It was then that the sound of the hut's front door creeking open snapped him out of his daze, as Bunnie walked in.

The Rabbit girl looked over at the young fox, a small smile forming on her face.

"Hey Tails, how are ya feeling today?" she said gently as she sat next to the him.

Tails turned to face her "A little better then yesterday " he said quietly as he offered her a small, but sad smile.

Bunnie's expression soften " Thats good to hear, so are ya hungry? I could whip up something for ya if ya like." she said in a cheerful tone.

Tails turned his head back to the window.

" No thanks Aunt Bunnie, I'm not really that hungry right now" he said solemnly.

Bunnie let out a small sigh, as she looked at tails.

"Are you sure your feelin better?" she said quietly.

Tails looked down as he turned to face her."I....I just wish things could go back to the way things where" He said sadly.

A pained look formed on Bunnie's face as she looked down at the poor boy, the sorrowful events from last night still effecting him even now.

Bunnie keeled down and hugged him gently.

"I know tails, I know" she whispered, as the young fox returned her embrace.

Suddenly a knock came at the door,both Bunnie and tails broke off their embrace as she got up to answer the door.

"Hey y'all' Bunnie said pleasantly, as tails walked up next to her, curious as to who she was talking to.

The door opened wider as Sonic walked in, his robotized limbs caused the floor to creek slightly from the added weight.

"Sonic!" tails said excitedly as he rushed the blue hedgehog, who could only smile as the kitsune like fox boy hugged him

"Hey little bro." sonic said happily as he frazzled the young fox's hair.

"I'm glad your ok sonic" he said as he looked up at his hero, who gave him a soft smile as he placed the young fox back down on the floor.

It was then that sonic noticed tails was now staring at his metallic limbs, a small hint of shock etched on his face.

The blue hedgehog gave tails a reassuring smile" don't worry little guy, ya don't need to worry about these" he said as he flexed his fingers.

"Are you sure you ok, I..I mean now that you have metal parts like aunt Bunnie?" he asked hesitantly.

Sonic grinned, Well it's taken some getting use to, but your aunt Bunnie has been giving me some practice lessons." he said as he looked towards Bunnie

The rabbit girl gave him a playful smile.

" And Ol sugah hog here is a fast learner, but he's still got a ways to go" she said, referring to their early morning session.

Tails nodded.

" So thats why you where gone this morning aunt Bunnie?" he asked curiously.

Bunnie smiled as she nodded to the fox.

" yep, sorry bout that, would have been back sooner but lets just say sugah hog isn't exactly the most patient person to work with" she said as she gave a small smirk the the hedgehog.

"When has he ever?" tails giggled, as Bunnie also started to laugh a little.

Sonic looked at the two with a sour look, but then started to snicker a little.

" Yeah, yeah laugh it up you too" he said with a smirk.

From the edge of the doorway sally looked on at the playful scene in front of her, a small yet sad smile on her face.

Sonic turned his head towards the door, curious as to why sally had not followed him in.

"Hold on one sec." he said as he walked back to the doorway, while tails looked on curiously.

Sonic walked out to see sally still out on the porch of Bunnie's hut, a small look of fear and anxiety on her face.

"What wrong Sal, I thought you wanted to see how tails was doing?" Sonic whispered

Sally looked up at the him. Her eyes trembleing slightly.

"I know...but....but what if he.." Sally didn't finish as she looked back down towards the ground.

Sonic placed both of his hands on her shoulders.

" don't worry Sal, deep down he knows your still you, ok?" he said reassuringly.

Sally nodded lightly as both sonic and her walked to the door.

Sonic was the first to walk back into the hut, a small smile on his face.

"Ok tails, I want you to promise me that you won't get scared ok?" he said softly as the young fox raised an eyebrow.

"Um ok." he said hesitantly as he looked up at Bunnie who gave him a reassuring smile of her own, a small fear lingering in her mind as to how the young boy was going to react to

what was about to happen.

Sonic gave a simple nod as he stood away from the doorway

"It's ok Sal, come on." he said quietly.

Tail's eyes lit up at the mentioning of her name.

"Aunt sally's here? She's ok?" he said hopefully as he walked towards the doorway.

"Aunt Sally your....."

It was then that sally walked in, a hopeful look on her face as she looked down at the young fox who had now stopped dead in his tracks.

Tails eyes widen in fear, memories from the mission flashing in his mind. The glowing red eyes, the evil sneer that was etched on it's face as it began to strangle him, It's voice ringing in

his sub Consciousness.

" I'LL CRUSH THE LIFE OUT OF YOU" it echoed over and over as it glared at him with hate filled eyes.

Sally watched the young fox as he hesitantly started to step away from her, a sorrowful look etched on her face.

Tails hid behind Bunnie

" That's not aunt sally." he said fearfully, as Bunnie gently comforted him.

Sonic first looked at the trembling boy, and then towards the robian princess, the absolute devastation, and sorrow evident on her face, as he frowned sadly.

"Tails, this is Sally" he said solomnly as tails looked away.

"He right darlin, remember what I was tellin ya last night?" Bunnie said quietly, hoping the young fox would understand.

"That can't be her, Aunt sally would have never tried to hurt any of us!" he shouted as he looked at sally, a mix of anger and fear in his voice.

Sally's eyes went wide with shock as tail's words cut though her like a razor blade, but then her features softened as she looked pleadingly at the young fox.

The robian princess took one step forward.

"Tails it's really me, you know I would never.."

But Sally never got the chance to finish, as the terrified child ran from her, franticly diving under Bunnie's bed.

She simply stood there for a moment, her face almost unreadable, as sonic and Bunnie looked on, both of them feeling heartache for the scene that had just unfolded.

"Sally" sonic said sadly as Bunnie walked into her room, hoping to coax the frightened child from under the bed.

The robian lowered her head, a look of absolute rejection oh her face as her body trembled slightly.

"I.....I'm so sorry tails" she barely whispered,on the verge of tears as she turned and nearly ran out of the hut.

Sonic followed after her, only stopping to take a quick glance at Bunnie, who looked at him as if to say "Go on sugah hog, she needs you" as she kneeled down beside her bed while

trying to comfort tails.

"Ugh, what have I done to him? What kind of monstrosity-" But Sonic cut her off.

"Don't go there Sal, I though we covered this already, it wasn't you. It was that Slave thing and you know it. You just got to give the poor kid time and for me, Bunnie, or Uncle Chuck to get him to understand that."

Sally looked to her friend, a pained expression etched on her face.

"I know, but it still hurts."

She then looked at her open palms as if they where stained with blood.

"It was all I could do to not let that thing kill him, I don't know what I would do if-"

"NO! Don't even think it, it didn't happen, got that? As you said back when you gave me leadership, we need to focus on the tasks at hand, and right now that's getting a handle on our situations and kicking Serdly's kesiter."

"You're right Sonic, I just wish it didn't hurt like this."

"You're not the only one hurting right now Sal."

The rest of the way was just silence as they made their way to their next destination.

-

Knothole

Rosie's hut

The knock on the door came to the attention of the elderly mobian as she got up from her seat fixing a sweater.

"I'm coming, hold your horses." She said as she came up to the door. "Yes, what can I...Oh MY."

Came the surprise from Rosie's voice as her eye's fell on both Sally and Sonic.

"Hi Rosie," both said in somber voices to the elder as they held their heads down.

"Oh dear. I heard what happened from some of the others, but I didn't believe a word of it." She said in near disbelief.

"Well, as you can see, it's true." Sonic responded to her.

"Sonic can you wait out here? I need to have a talk with Rosie, if that's okay with you." She said to Rosie after addressing Sonic.

"Yes, yes. Come in, Sit down."

Rosie stood aside as Sonic only nodded to the robian chipmunk, and Sally walked in to the hut.

As the door closed Sonic leaned on the frame, arms crossed as he waited.

"Good luck." He said solemnly.

Sally did her best to watch her step as she came into the hut, taking care to find the strongest points where the crossbeams or posts that made the foundation of the home so as not to

have her weight accidentally brake though the wooden floor.

gGoodness me, are you alright Sally?"she said gently as she and sally sat down on her couch.

The princess only nodded at first as she stared at the floor, her face turned away from Rosie as if trying to hide from the elderly chipmunk.

Rosie frowned at this.

" Sally....you don't need to be ashamed around me" she said gently as she placed her hand on the side of Sally's shoulder.

The young robian, hesitantly raised her head slightly as she looked over at Rosie, a comforting smile graced the old woman's features.

"Rosie...... I....I'm" Sally stuttered out as her composure started to fail her as she lowered her head again.

Rosie brought her hand to sally's face, the robian reeling back slightly as if afraid of her touch.

"It's okay sally,I just want to look at you" the elderly chipmunk whispered as she brushed

aside one of her metallic bangs as she looked into sally's glowing blue eyes.

"I'm so scared Rosie" she whimpered, her eyes reflexed the fear and pain that was ripping at the poor girl.

"It's okay, it is going to be okay." Rosie said as she started to hug the Robian princess, Sally didn't even try to hug back fearing her new strength would harm the elder.

"Is it?" she said quietly.

"Yes it will dear. You have to stay strong sally. This isn't the same girl I have seen grow up before my eyes and become the young woman I know." Rosie said holding Sally's shoulders at arms length.

Sally closed her eyes, fear and pain coursing though her.

"You right Rosie, I'm not the same, how can I be after what's happened to me?!"

Rosie's eyes widen at the sudden outburst, but then looked on sadly as sally turned her head away from her.

"Oh Rosie. I don't know what to do,I feel so helpless, I just had to give up leadership of the Freedom Fighters, but...I...I just don't know if it was for the best."

"Sally." the elderly chipmunk said softly as the robian continued to pour her heart out to her.

I can see it in their eyes Rosie, they all think I'm a monster" she said as she looked at her metallic hands.

"And maybe their right" she choked out as she clenched her hands, Tails' terrified look flashed in her mind as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.

The elderly chipmunk looked on sorrowfully as sally collapsed to her knees, her hands covered her face as tears streaming down her cheeks.

Rosie then cupped her hands around Sally's face making the princess look at her elder who for the last 10 years has been the closest thing to a mother, the smile in her face warmed Sally's robotisized heart, the look of hope coming from her eyes.

"Sally you're still the princess, the heir to the throne of Acorn, you still have your freewill and your freedom still. When all is said and done, at the end of the day you have to be strong, so when you beat Snively that is when you're leadership will be needed once again."

The robian looked back down towards the floor.

"But....I.."

"And enough of this whole monster nonsense, your nothing of the sort dear, weather your flesh or metal it's what's inside that defines you and thats what important." Rosie said softly,

hoping to snap sally out of the depressive slump she was in.

Sally sniffed out of reaction to her emotions, using her fingers to wipe the tears from her face as she got up off her knees.

"Thank you Rosie, I....I.. needed that." Sally said looking back and smiling at the elder Mobian.

"You're right, I can't let this get to me. Besides, someone's got to keep an eye on Sonic now that he's got leadership, who knows what kind of trouble he will cause."

Rosie just smiled and shook her head amused. "Now that's the girl I remembered from 10 years ago, even if you are robotisized now."

"What?" Sally asked, but before she could continue her question, both of them started to hear something coming from outside.

Sonic was playing with a rock at the moment, tossing it up and then catching it to test his dexterity with his new hands. It seemed he was a fast learner, faster then even he expected as he was able to pull off the delicate moves with his hands. He still was having trouble catching the rock when it went high up, higher then he though he could thanks to the extra power that his new appendages provided.

In the moment he would grip the rock after misjudging its incoming path, he would grip the rock and cause it to crack a little more,

"I still have to get this down, what did Bunnie say about holding back?"

the thought to himself as he looked down at the near pulverized rock

It was then that he heard the sound of a several dozen footsteps approaching and saw a large group of villagers led by Marcus walking down the path towards his direction.

"Oh this can't be good." he said to himself as the crowd drew closer.

-

Both Rosie and Sally turned their heads as they heard distant shouting.

"My goodness, whats all the commotion?" Rosie said as she looked out the window.

The elderly chipmunk let out a small gasp as Sally came up next to her.

"Rosie, whats wrong?" she asked, worryingly.

It was then that she saw it, dozens of villagers were standing in front of the hut with Sonic the only thing standing between them and rosie's doorstep.

-

Sonic stood his ground as did the crowd, both were completely silent for the moment as they stared each other down.

A hint of nervousness was building within the hedgehog as he eyed the crowd, most of them were armed with clubs, pipes, and other forms of blunt instruments.

"Is there a problem guys?" he said

no one in the crowd answered, but it was then that sonic noticed that some in the back where moving out of the way as a single figure made their way through the crowd.

Sonic glared as lone mobian came to the front, his teeth grinding as his brow furrowed.

"Marcus. figured it was you who was behind this little get together" he said with disdain, as the shepard glared back at him.

"Nice to see you too sonic" Marcus replied flatly.

"Cut the crap Marcus, whats the deal here with all of these villagers?" he growled as he pointed at the mobian.

"Just stand aside sonic, there's no need for you to get hurt, we're only here for the robian." Marcus said in a dangerously calm tone as several of the villagers behind him began to approach.

Sonic readied himself into a battle stance.

"Whats your problem Marcus? Sally's gone through enough already, and she doesn't need any more from you guys. So why don't you just call off this whole thing?"

Marcus raised an eyebrow, pondering whether the hedgehog's devotion was admirable or just plain stupid.

"Are you that inclined to protect that thing sonic?" Marcus growled as he bared his teeth.

He then pointed his finger to the hut as the villagers came closer and closer, brandishing their makeshift weapons

" As far as we're concerned, that machine is a threat to everyone in this village, and if you don't step aside, things are gonna get a bit ugly."

Inside the hut, both Rosie and sally looked on in horror.

"He's going to get himself killed if he tries to take on such a large group, why doesn't he make a run for it" sally said, near panic was beginning to rise in her voice.

Without a word, Rosie took the robian princess by the hand and lead her to a small trap door within the center of her hut.

"He's trying to protect you dear, which is exactly what I'm going to do as well, now escape though here, and use the forest for cover" she said as she opened the door quietly.

Sally shook her head," no, there is no way I'm leaving you or Sonic at the mercy of that mob, I can't just run away while.."

Rosie grabbed sally firmly by her shoulders.

"Listen to me sally, Sonic will be fine and so will I, now do as I say and escape while you can." she said firmly.

The robian gave the elderly chipmunk a saddened look, as she nodded timidly.

"I'll warn the council about this, just don't do anything rash ok" she said as she walked towards the trap doorway.

Rosie gave here a smile. "No need to worry about me dear, I may be old but I can take care of myself."

Sally then gave her a quick hug just before she made her way down the trapdoor, sparing a quick glance upward as Rosie shut it behind her.

Another villager was thrown to the ground as a huge gust of wind blew him back, the others struggled to maintain their footing as the azure hedgehog in front of them continued to

spin dash in place.

The miniature cyclone, died out as sonic came out of his spin, a determined look in his eyes as the villagers made another attempt.

"I could keep this up all day guys so if ya know what's good for ya, just give it up" her growled.

Meanwhile, near the rear of the mob stood Marcus, his patience wearing thin.

" At this rate someone could alert the council of what was going on" he thought to himself as another gust of wind knocked down several more irate villagers.

Greggory looked over at Marcus, a frustrated expression formed on the hog's face.

"This is gettin us nowhere, for all we know the scrap pile might have slipped out the back" he said angrily.

Marcus glared at the pig, grinding his teeth.

"Don't you think I know that?!" he growled at the Greggory as several more gusts of wind blew at their direction.

It was then that a blinding light shined in the corner of Marcus's pereferal vision, forcing him to squint a bit as he looked towards the direction of the light.

"What is it?" Greggory asked as he saw Marcus turn his head.

The shepard scanned the area where the light had come from. "I'm not sure I thought I........."

Marcus stopped in mid sentence as he saw movement between the trees, squinting his eyes to get a better look.

It was then that his eyes widened as he saw the shimmering light reflex off the metallic figure.

"No doubt about it" he thought to himself as he gave a small smirk

"OVER HERE!" he shouted as the crowd stopped in their tracks, all of them turning their heads towards the shepard.

Panic began to rise within sally as she heard Marcus's shout.

"They spotted me" she thought to herself as she started to sprint, hoping to outrun the mob as the began to pursue her.

Sally's mind raced franticly as she attempted to lose her pursuers, having trouble maintaining her speed due to the uneven terrain.

"If I can just reach the alcove, I'll be able to...AHHHH"

The robian let out a yelp as a rock flung by one of the rioters slammed into the side of her head with an audible clang, her vision became scrabbled and distorted as she began to lose her balance.

Sonic looked on in horror as sally collapsed in mid sprint, her body slamming into the ground with a thud.

"SALLY!" he shouted as the crowd began to encircle the downed robian.

Sally let out a small groan as she came to her senses, her distorted vision returning to normal as she stumbled to her feet, only to realize that she was surrounded buy

dozens of irate villagers, all of them brandishing their weapons menacingly.

Sally looked in all directions, she was completely surrounded, a look of horror etched on her face as the crowd began to move in.

"Marcus none of this is going to help the people of knothole, you don't need to do this!" she said, panic rising in her voice as the crowd came closer and closer.

Marcus stepped forward from the crowd, glaring at the robian princess.

"Thats where you and I disagree machine, you see I'm in fact protecting the people of knothole, protecting them from monsters like you." he hissed as sally's eyes widened, her body trembling with fear.

"TEAR IT APART!" Greggory shouted as the crowd joined in, brandishing their weapons.

Terror was coursing though sally as the crowd advanced further still, now within a few feet of her.

"sonic" she whimpered, as she closed her eyes tightly expecting the end to come.

As if to answer her plea, A blue blur plowed though the crowd, dozens of villagers where thrown several feet in the air as others where knocked down on their backs.

Sally hesitantly opened her eyes, shocked when she saw sonic standing in front of her, a hateful glare etched on his face as he looked towards the crowd.

"If even one of you so much as lay a hand on sally, I swear I'll make you regret it" the hedgehog said in a dangerously low voice as he balled up his metallic fists in anger.

Various moans and groans could be heard from the the downed villagers, the remaining ones still standing hesitantly stepping back from sonic.

Marcus and Greggory got off the ground, both of them glaring at the cyborg hedgehog.

"I doesn't have to be like this sonic, if you keep this up, we'll have no choice but to take care of you as well." Marcus said as some of the villagers began to encircle the two.

Greggory sneered at sonic, disdain in his face.

"that's right half-bot, if you hand over the scrap pile, then we won't have to smash you as well" he said as he brandished a pipe.

Sonic glared at them, his teeth clenching as they continued to verbally assault the two of them.

Sally watched from behind sonic as the crowd began to throw rocks and various other objects at them, her friend doing his best to dodge out of the way of the incoming debris while still protecting her.

"This is all my fault, if it wasn't for me, he would be here risking himself to protect me." she thought as sadness in her eyes grew.

Just then one of the rocks came streaking towards her head, but just before it made contact sonic jumped in the way as the rock hit the side of the hedgehog's face.

"SONIC!" sally shouted as sonic dropped to one knee, grabbing the side of his face.

The hedgehog let out a grunt of pain as sally knelled to his side, the crowd coming dangerously close to the pair.

"It's getting pretty ugly here Sal, ya need to get out of here, I'll try to hold them off." he said as he got back to his feet, a noticeable bruise forming on his face.

Sally shook her head, refusing to leave his side.

"This is insane! I won't let you get hurt because of me."

Sonic turned towards her, his eyes meeting hers.

"Sal, for once just listen to me, you have to get out of here, I couldn't live with myself if.... if.. you..." he didn't finish as he looked back at the crowd, determined to keep the robian princess safe.

"Sonic" she whispered, as tears began to form in her eyes.

Without another word, Sally bolted between an opening in the crowd, as sonic created another whirlwind, knocking down any possible attackers as she ran into the forest.

"IT'S GETTING AWAY" Greggory shouted as he and a few rioters attempted to pursue her, only to have sonic dash in front of them, a determined look in his eyes.

"The only way your going to get to her is though me" her growled as the crowd began to encircle the azure hedgehog.

-

Knothole

village trail

Tails walked along the pathway, towards Rosie's hut, a look of doubt and apprehension on his face.

The vision of the Slave controlled sally still lingered in his mind as his fear began to return, but at the same time, his heart was wrapped with guilt when he saw how he had made her cry.

He continued down the dirt trail, his thoughts focusing back to what Bunnie had told him after sonic and sally had left the hut.

-

Bunnie's hut

30 minutes prior

"Tails honey," Bunnie said trying to calm the fox child. "Y'all have to stop this. Your breakin your Aunt Sally's heart."

Tails only sniffed as a few more tears came down his face before he looked to Bunnie.

"But that thing, it wants to hurt me-"

"Now listen here!" Bunnie interrupted him.

"Did y'all see what happend to her after she let ya go?"

Tails suddenly stiffened up by the Rabbit's sudden outburst, but shook his head 'no' too scared right now say anything.

"Well, what Sally girl did for you was fight the Slave program that ol needle nose put in her, she fought to the point that she nearly killed her self.

Did you see when she was banging her head into the ground?"

He nodded softly.

"Well, she was finally able to beat back that Varmint Slave program that was controlling her body, not Aunt Sally."

Tails took on, a thoughtful look as he let this information set in place.

"Aunt Sally almost....almost.....she did that for me?"

Bunnie simply nodded as tails looked down at the floor, a look of contemplation on his face.

"She's feelin terrible about this whole mess, specially for what that thing almost made her do to ya, and right now she needs to know that will all be here for her."

Tails eyes widened in realization, and then his face shifted into a look of absolute guilt.

"Those things I said to her..I....I" tails choked out as he buried his face into his hands.

Bunnie gently placed her hand on the young fox's back, a pained look in her eyes.

"Oh darlin don't go feelin that way" she said sadly.

With out warning Tails jumped to his feet and bolted to the doorway, his pained expression replaced by one of urgency.

"Tails! where ya goin?" Bunnie said, surprised by the fox's sudden action.

"I need to find Aunt sally so I can apologize" he yelled back as he ran out the door.

-

Present

As tails came around the corner of the trail he was shocked by the sight before him.

Both Sonic and Sally where surrounded by a large group of villagers, all of them casting angry and hateful glares at the two as they pelted them with rocks and other objects.

Tails let out a small gasp as sonic was struck in the side of his face as sally came to his side, both of them saying something to each other but tails was to far away to know what exactly.

And a few moments later sonic let out a gust of wind as he rolled into a spindash, knocking a few of the villagers to the ground as Sally ran through the opening he had created and dashed into the forest.

With out a second thought tails revved up his twin tails and began to pursue her through the thick forest, keeping distance between himself and her as he silently followed her.

-

Great forest

outskirts of Knothole

A gentle wind blew across the meadow, the long grass swayed to and frow. Nestled, near a small stream the seduced spot was a small but vibrate area, littererd with grass and plants of all kinds, surrounded by massive trees all around. It was a peaceful quite place, devoid of any people, all accept for a single robot siting on a tree stump.

Sally had to get away. Away from knothole, away from the angry shouts, the hateful stares and fearful cries.

For ten years of her life she had steeled herself to fight against a tyrant to liberate her home and her people, took part in dangerous and life threating missions, and risked life and limb for her friends and fellow mobians.

But nothing could have prepared her for the fear and hate that had been directed at her, the shock of how quickly the people who had once been so supportive and understanding could

be so cruel.

"I can't go back, for their sake I can't." She whimpered.

She couldn't risk putting her friends in danger, fearing that they would be hurt trying to protect her from the angry villagers.

"Sonic.." she choked out as she began to cry, her tears flowing down her face, as fear and sorrow gripped her aching heart.

It was then that the sound of a snapping branch interrupted her sobbing. had the villagers manged to follow her? was it sonic perhaps?

"Who's there?" she said shakingly, readying herself to flee if necessary.

It was then that an orange-yellow colored form step out from behind the trees, two tails poking from behind it.

"Tails?" she said with a hint of shock in her voice.

"What are you doing here?" she said softly, hoping not to scare the young child with her metallic voice.

Tails didn't respond at first, he simply looked down at the ground, his face showing a mix of sadness and shame.

"Aunt Sally?" he said hesitantly as if trying to find something to say,"are you really going to leave?"

"Tails..." she said with sorrow in her voice.

What could she say to the poor child?

But before she could try and explain, tails spoke up once more.

"Sonic and aunt Bunnie told me about what happened to you, that it wasn't you who tried to hurt me." he said as he looked up at her, a single tear began to flow down his cheek.

"And what all those people said about you...those horrible things" he continued as his voice began to crack.

Sally could see it in his eyes, the pain he must have been feeling, a pain she knew all to well.

"I don't care if your made of metal now. Your still aunt Sally to me, and we, need you...I need you." he whimpered as he began to cry softly

She stood there briefly, her heart aching at the sight before her.

Slowly, she walked over to the sobbing young fox and knelled down, gently placing her hand on his shoulder.

Tails looked up at the robian, her glowing blue eyes reflexing the sorrow she felt for him.

"As long as I stay in the village, it will only cause more pain for everyone I care about, including you tails" she said sadly

The young fox shook his head, unwilling to accept such an answer.

"But it's not fair! you didn't do anything wrong!" he said, anger rising in his voice as he thought of how the villagers had attacked her.

She saw it in his eyes, the slow burning anger that was growing within him as he trembled slightly.

Sally gently placed her hand on the side of his face as the fox looked her in the eyes.

"you can't be angry with them tails, their scared just like you were. Their only doing what they think is right." she said softly.

"But what they said back there was a lie, you wern't hurting anyone and yet they attacked you, how is that right?!" the fox said, his anger rising.

Sally shifted her gaze downward.

"It isn't tails, but as long as I'm here, I'll only be endangering those that are dear to me." she thought to herself.

"Please aunt Sally, don't go."

"I don't have a choice Tails. If I stay you and everyone else close to me will be hurt."

Then a determined look fell over the child's eyes.

"Then I'll go too."

"What? Tails!"

"I am going with you. If you won't stay, then I won't."

" Oh Tails, what are you thinking." Sally thought as she held the child. "Tails, you can't come with me, it isn't safe for you to try."

"Then what about you? Won't people in other places act like those meanies if I'm not around?"

"Tails, I can't let you do this."

"No aunt Sally," Tails sudden forcefulness took her by surprise, it was then she started to notice his face scrunching up and tears starting to build up. "if you leave where will you go? What will you eat? Who else besides aunt Bunnie is going to tuck me in at night if you are gone and she has to do more work?"

It suddenly hit her, "That's right, I might not be able to eat anymore, but I will need power like Sir Charles does."

"An...an...and," The tears where starting to build up stronger and began to fall from his cheeks, he then threw him self onto Sally's body and put his face on her midriff letting the tears fall full force. "I love you like my mommy."

"Oh Tails." She then thought, "What am I to do? I can't go because he'll follow me, and I can't stay because of Marcus' group, but the cousile did give me protection."

"Pl...please aunt Sally, don't go without me."

Sally hug the young fox back and then let a tear fall from her face, her warning system again alerting her to the tears.

"Okay, I'll stay."

Looking up to the robian, Tails gave her a curious look.

"You will?"

"Yes, I can't very well let you go with me and I know you won't take no for an answer." Sally then sighed once when she thought over it more. "And the counsel did give me protection."

-

Back in Knothole

The confrontation between Sonic, Bunnie, Antonie, Rotor, and the other Freedom Fighter Leadership and the rather unruly mob was really becoming ugly, but at least both sides where at a stalemate for the moment.

Marcus at this point was in a rather heated debate with Sonic over Sally's place in the village and was starting to become more agitated by the second, as he tried to egg Sonic into a confrontation, hoping to get support from the council to have the Hedgehog removed and appoint someone else because of how unstable he was. Or so he thought.

Sonic on the other hand was doing his best not to lose his cool, after running interference on the crowd long enough to get their attentions away from Sally and on him, he was being uncharacteristically more tactical in the way he was handling the mob. It would still work in his favor as others heard from Rosie after she ran to get Sonic his backup. It took the form of Lupe, Ari, Griff, and several others that still supported Sally, but the numbers where very uneven, what with it being about 4 to 1 in numbers.

"Give it up Sonic! We are willing to have Sir Charles stay here, but Sally has got to GO! She is a threat above all else to the Village, and I will not let it stand!"

"Marcus, what are you doing? This is insane, you are going against the council's orders?" Sonic countered.

"They will see things my way once they hear from voices of all those concerned for their families and friends!" The German Shepherd was backed up by the voices of the mob behind him shouting several things, some of which was sounding rather crass.

Suddenly, a shout rang out from one of the villagers as the two groups looked over to the source of the distraction.

The crowd saw as Rotor was holding what looked like one of the fireworks cannon launchers with smoke coming out of it, behind him was the village Counsel behind him with the rest of the few villagers that hasn't taken a side and uncle Chuck all of which had a look as if someone sucker punched them.

"MARCUS!!!! Yelled an elderly female Cat with calico patters over her fur, wearing only a shoulder scarf and shoes with a walking stick in hand, all of which belied the fact that she had the voice on her that made people think that she yelled so loud that it shook the trees in the whole of the Great Forest. "WHAT THE !## ARE YOU DOING!?"

The mob's momentum killed dead in its tracks, everyone in the face of one of the more fiery members of the conclude, when no one said anything she walked up in a very strong stride barely using the walking stick to use to walk on the ground and instead using the tip of the stick to point into Marcus' face and touch his nose.

"Well? I'm waiting, what is your excuse for 'defying' our ruling!"

Marcus didn't even blink once to the elderly mobian. "You are wrong about that robot."

"That 'robot' is still the princess and she still has her free will I might add, I though we where clear about this, she is to be given amnesty." Sighing slightly she then said. "I can see why she stepped down from her leadership role if she foresaw this coming."

"Well? I'm waiting, what is your excuse for 'defying' our ruling?!" she said, her tone one of barely controlled rage.

Marcus didn't even blink once to the elderly mobian as he gently pushed the cat's stick away from his snout.

"Im only trying to ensure the safety of the village. your decision about the robot wrong." he said firmly.

The elderly feline narrowed her eyes at the dog.

"That 'robot' is still the princess and she still has her free will I might add, I though we where clear about that fact, she was to be given amnesty."

She then sighed in frustration as she rubbed her forehead.

"I can see why she stepped down from her leadership role if she foresaw this coming." she said in an exasperated tone.

Marcus was about to respond to the elderly cat when one of the villagers pointed towards the forest.

"Over there!, look!"

Both crowds turned to find both Sally and tails emerging out from the forest.

The young fox and robian princess froze in their tracks when they laid their eyes upon the two crowds in front of them.

Sally eyes scanned the groups, noticing that even the council had shown up thanks the the massive ruckus caused by Marcus and his supporters.

"Maybe coming back wasn't such a good idea after all." she thought to herself.

Just then a few of Marcus's followers began to approach the two, a cautious look on their faces as they brandished their blunt weapons.

The robian princess was about to tell tails to get away when suddenly the young fox stood in front of her, arms stretched out in a defensive manner.

"Go away, leave Aunt Sally alone!" he shouted to the two villagers.

Sonic looked on as tails stood between sally and the rioters, both relieved that sally had returned, and shocked that tails was now caught in the middle of the madness that was unfolding.

"Oh mah stars, What's tails doing here?" Bunnie shouted, panic rising in her voice.

"This is so way past not cool" Sonic thought to himself as he and the others watched, afraid to step in due to the risk of causing another fight to break out.

Tails stood his ground as more villagers began to approach him and sally, the young fox's determination holding strong.

"Kid what the heck are you doing next to that thing?" one of the rioters said to him.

"It's dangerous to be near that machine, get away from it" another one shouted to tails, all while trying to coax him away from the robian.

Tails brow furrowed, his anger growing as the villagers kept calling Sally a machine.

"No, Your the one's that are dangerous, now just stay away from her!"

"Tails, get away from that thing,don't let it sweet talk you!" Marcus said in an almost pleading manner, trying to get the young fox away from Sally.

But all the while this was happening, no one noticed Greggory pick up a rather sizable rock in his meaty hands, no one accept for Tails.

"Lets see ya dodge this ya walking scrap pile." the pig muttered under his breath.

Time seemed to slow down as Greggory hurled the rock at Sally,the robian barely had any time to see a red warning flash go off within her vision as it speed towards her.

Tails eyes went wide with urgency.

"AUNT SALLY LOOK OUT!" he shouted.

The young fox's twin tails spun so fast that it kicked up a small dust storm in their wake.

*CRACK!!!! *

Sally fell to the ground, her vision scrabbling a bit as she tired to see though the screen of dust that the young fox had created.

"Wha.... what happened?" she said as her vision began to clear.

She then noticed Tail's limp body resting on her chest, a small trickle of blood ran across his face from the wound on his head.

Sally's eyes widen, Transfixed on the young boy's still form.

"TAILS!" Sally screamed, horror and panic coursing though her as she feared the worst.

She gently laid the child on the ground,checking him to see if he was alright as her visual diagnostics kicked in.

The young fox's vitals were displayed within the corner of her eye, showing that the strike had not been fatal, but if not treated right away, the child would be in serious danger.

But at this point Sally noticed that Marcus' group was slowly approaching her, a shocked look in their eyes.

"Look! She attacked the boy!" one of the rioters shouted.

"It is a killer! Just like Marcus said!"

Sally glared at the on coming crowd of rioters, the accumulated anger she felt growing to the breaking point.

Deep inside her something snapped, the pain and rage came to a head as she looked down at the hurt child before her, wanting to make them pay for what they had done.

"STAY AWAY!" she screamed, the anger in her eyes was so intense that it caused the approaching villagers to freeze in their tracks.

In one subconscious movement she raised her hand into the air as a unseen panel in her forearm opened up, reveling what appeared to be a large built-in blaster.

The crowd's eyes went wide with shock and fear as the barrel of the weapon began to glow a bright blue.

Sally herself gasped in surprise as she gawked at her arm, staring at the cobalt steel blaster, unaware she even had such a weapon.

Her surprise was however brief as she looked forward, the crowd finding renewed courage as they began to advance again.

"It is a monster, destroy it before it has a chance to fire!" one rioter shouted.

With out a thought she then pointed it above the crowd.

The rioters let out a collective gasp as they saw the barrel of the weapon begin to glow brighter then before.

*SHHBOOM*

The energy blast laced upward, striking a hanging branch, severing it from the tree with ease.

The branch then fell behind the advancing crowd with a resounding crash, the area where it had been blasted still glowing hot red as streams of smoke rose from the felled branch.

The combined sound of the blast followed by the falling branch stopped the advancing crowd dead in his tracks as the wild birds and other strange flying forest creatures in the village treetops flew off from the robian's energy blast.

"The first one that takes a step further towards me or Tails' will regret it." she said, her voice dangerously low as she glared at the now terrified rioters.

Sally lowered her arm slowly, the blaster retracting back into it's hidden slot.

"I'm taking him to the medical hut, and as for you Marcus, we are not done here." She said, her voice filled with malice and venom for what just happened to the poor child.

A nervous look was etched on the dog's face, fearful of the potentially deadly power the robian possessed.

She slowly moved to the young fox and was about to gently pick him up when suddenly, she felt increasingly weak.

Her Vision began to become distorted, and her body felt sluggish as all her motor functions began to shutdown.

Suddenly her optics began to fade to black, as a warning began to flash in her peripheral vision.

'POWER FAILURE. IMMEDIATE SYSTEM SHUTDOWN' it said in bright red glowing letters that flashed over and over.

"No! not now. Have....to...get...tails....to." Were her final thoughts as she fell over and landed next to Tail's unconscious form.

"SAL!" Sonic yelled as he saw the crowd advancing, but out of no where a massive shadow loomed in between the crowd and the robian.

Dulcy the dragon came in for a rather hard, but otherwise perfect landing.

The dust she kicked up in her wake, temporarily blinded the rioters as she struck a rather fearsome pose, her wings flaring out

A small puff of smoke emitted from her nostrils as she narrowed her eyes at the crowd, bearing her teeth slightly.

"I think Sally said you won't get off as lucky as that branch, and guess who will be giving it out." She said as more of a statement, as she pounded her fist into her palm as she stood up to her full height.

The crowd at this point wouldn't dare face off against the angered dragon as they started to back away slowly.

Dulcy turned toward Sally and picked her up with ease, then turned to Sonic.

"Sonic! I got Sally, you get tails to the Doctor."

Sonic, looked up suddenly at the dragon, slightly bewildered by what had just transpired.

He would muse later on about this being Dulcy's second perfect landing, but right now he simply nodded as he ran up to Tails and gently picked him up and sped off, causing a hurricane force wind in his wake as he rushed to get the young fox the urgent medical attention he needed.

Dulcy Flapped her wings as she took to the sky with Sally slung over her shoulder, flying overhead as the stunned group looked on.

It was then that the old cat woman turned to Marcus and his crowd, her glare sending shivers down the spines of the more cowardly members of the mob.

"Everyone, please take this group into custody and take their weapons, NOW!"

None of the rioters argued as they began to hand over their pipes, clubs and various other instruments.

The elder then glanced at Marcus, the dog in question froze from her stare as a bead of sweat rolled down his brow.

"As for you Marcus, you and I are going to have a little talk."

It was then that she noticed Greggory as he slowly tried to slip away from the scene.

"You and your co conspirator." she hissed as the pig stopped dead in his tracks, a nervous look forming on his face.

Marcus lowered his head, total defeat evident in his eyes.

"Yes ma'am." he muttered.

-

Knothole

Rotor's lab

For the second time in as many days, Sally came out from her fainting spell, looking around she saw Tails near her with bandages on his head, his unconscious form breathing in and out as if he was sleeping if Sally didn't know he got hit by that rock.

"Tails....." Sally said weakly

"He's very lucky you know, if it hit any harder or a bit lower it could have been worse." Sally turned to her other side to see uncle Chuck sitting on a chair with a device connected into Sally.

"Is he alright?"

"Just a mild concussion, he should be good in a few hours according to Dr. Quack." Chuck responded pushing a button on the device. "You on the other hand are a different story, you're energy levels where dangerously low."

Sally then recognized the device that was connected to her.

"Isn't that your recharge unit?" She said groggily.

"Yes, and you need it more then me right now. I've still got a few more hours before I need it."

Sally then pushed herself to sitting position on the bed she was on, it felt difficult to do so, an icon indicating her energy levels flashed in the corner of her vision, but she also felt as if she was hungry in a way. Not like before when she was a flesh and blood mobian, but it was recognizable none the less.

"But doesn't it only have enough to keep you going as is?" She asked her elder, it was just that device had been very hard to build and find parts for. Not to mention the power source itself was just as difficult to adapt to the water wheel generator, making it the only device of its kind in the whole of not only knothole, but in the Great Forest in general.

A device that was used to keep Uncle Chuck going when he was away from his hideout in Robotropilis.

"Yes, I can spare some of it since I still have a few more hours before my next recharge, but we're going to have to find away to keep your body charged up."

"With what? It was nearly impossible to get the needed parts, and we almost lost two people getting the key components last time." Sally pointed out to Chuck.

"Unless you have a better idea then sharing the unit or finding parts for a new one, we're very limited in what we can do."

It was then that a digitized female voice interrupted the two robians.

"Indeed Sir Charles"

Sally's ears perked up at the sound of Nicole's voice.

"Nicole? is that you?" she asked as she began to look around the room

"Right here Sally." Said the computer companion as Sally looked for her, the computer it would turn out was next to the device hooked into Sally, it too was hooked into Nicole.

"And I have bad news for you and Sir Charles, it would seem that the recharging unit is not able to fully replenish your systems without overclocking the regulator CPU."

"Oh no." Chuck said as the horror set in.

"Nicole how long can the regulator be left on like that before it blows itself or one of the capacitors?"

"Calculating Sir Charles."

And with that Nicole went over the numbers, noise from her onbord CPU going off to indicate her processing.

"Results of simulation, optimistic outcome is at least four more uses before critical failure, conservative estimates put it at two or less."

"This is bad." He said as he turned off the machine and unplugged both Sally and Nicole. "I think we may have shot our selves in the foot here."

"You mean to say that you and me are going to shut down for good unless we get some kind of power source?"

Sally's worry in her voice brought back the slight metallic echo which seems to be coming and going as she spoke at times. This being one of them as fear seemed to have triggered it this time around.

"Sally, reinsert me into your boot holster, I need to run diagnostics to see if I can deduce a possible alternative power source."

"Okay Nicole." Sally said, Chuck grabbed Nicole and folded her up while Sally bent her right knee to get her leg closer without having to use to much effort since she still felt weak even with the limited recharge.

Once the slot opened up Chuck handed Nicole over to Sally and she inserted the computer into her boot. Again like earlier today, she felt that shiver of cool and exciting energy go up her robotic spine.

Sally saw the data stream within her view before Nicole showed up again in a window in her HUD.

"Alright Sally, give me a few moments, I need to confirm several things." And Nicole looked in the window as if she was reading something off screen, her eyes darting back and forth, side to side. She would occasionally move her hand across the screen as if she was moving something on a touchscreen of some kind. Finally after much waiting Nicole spoke up.

"Okay Sally," Nicole said as the HUD window disappeared and the holographic window opened up with Nicole standing in full view showing off her mobian form for all to see.

"I've checked and re-checked your systems and I'm finding something interesting, it would seem that if nearly all your body parts have been robotisized."

Nicole brought up a side by side comparison of both her biological body as well as her robain one showing off a cut out with her each side highlighted with each one's twin components or body part to indicate what each one was. It was then that Sally noticed something.

"Nicole, why are there dark areas in the robotic side?" Nicole looked to the cut outs and then pointed out with her hand as she zoomed in on the dark parts.

"That is because these are your organic components, namely your Spine and brain are still organic. Sir Charles may have had these from the very start of his time as a robain, this however is what I want to bring to your attentions. The abdomen area."

The image highlighted Sally's abdominal region in both her former organic form and her current metal form, both showing a stomach of their own, showing it's familiar shape.

"As you can see there's another feature, I've have been combing the Slave engine data and comparing what I can see. It would seem that Snively also took into account the possibility that should the CR troops be away from any kind of recharging unit, it is equipped with some kind of fusion unit that acts as a artificial stomach if you will."

"Stomach?" sally said as Nicole brought up another diagnostic showing the so called fusion unit in greater detail.

"According to the data here the unit is called a bio converter and if I have reviewed the data properly, it should allow you to consume organic matter, which in turn would be converted into energy to recharge your systems.

Sally blinked a few times as she processed what Nicole was suggesting.

"You mean I have to eat something?" she said hesitantly.

"Affirmative"the computer said in a matter of fact tone.

"Nicole I don't even have a working digestive system anymore, how can you be sure if what your saying is one hundred percent certain?" the robian said, not entirely convinced by her A.I companion's suggestion.

"It couldn't hurt to try" uncle chuck suggested to the younger robian as he began to walk out of the room.

"Where are you going?" sally said worryingly

Chuck looked back just as he went out the doorway, a hopeful smile on his face " To get you a little snack" he said.

Moments later Chuck came back with a plateful of assorted fruits, a few apples some grapes and an orange.

"I figured it was best to use a variety to see which one would be best to recharge you energy reserves" he said as he placed the plate onto a small table next to Sally.

"If this even works at all." she said with skepticism as she picked up an apple.

"But if It does, this will definitely solve out energy problem indefinitely." Uncle chuck said as sally nod in agreement.

Hesitantly, Sally took a bite of the apple, her automated systems already activating and going though the processes as she began chewing.

"This is to weird" she thought to herself as she swallowed, the bits traveling down her metallic thoat and down into her 'stomach'.

A subtle vibration in sally's abdominal region signaled that the bio converter was now active and currently going though the process of 'digesting'.

Almost immediately a small window opened in the corner of her vision showing a energy gauge as it slowly began to fill, all while flashing in bold green letters "SYSTEM RECHARGING".

"As predicted, your systems are already recharging due to the organic matter you just ingested" Nicole stated confidently.

Sally took another bite of the apple and swallowed " The strange thing is I can actually feel it working"

she said as the energy bar in her HUD continued to fill up, Sally herself even felt more awake now due to the much needed boost in her systems, as she took a third bite.

-

A few Hours later

Tails let out a small groan as he began to regain consciousness, the light from the medical hut's ceiling lamp blinded him as he opened his eyes.

"W.. wha.... what happened?" he said groggily, trying to lift himself up from the medical bed as Dr quack came to his bedside to check on him.

"Easy there kiddo ya took quite a nasty hit to the head, so best not to move to much" he said cautiously as the young fox nodded and slowly rested his head back on the pillow.

"How did I end up here?" tails asked as he took in his new surroundings.

Dr Quack, looked down at the fox a calm expression on his face.

" Princess Sally brought you here after you where knocked unconscious" he said as he checked one of the monitoring devices next to tail's bed.

"Aunt Sally?" he said slowly, as doctor quack nodded in response to his question.

"Yep, and it was a good thing she got you here when she did, otherwise you would have been in some serious trouble."

he said as he wrote down a few readings from the machine onto the clipboard in his hand.

Tails simply nodded as he processed what was being told to him, but then a thought came to him.

"Is aunt sally ok?" he said, a look of worry on his face as he looked up at Dr quack.

The doctor gave a small smile " she's just fine, she's out in the waiting area" he said softly.

"Is it ok if I can see her?" he said pleadingly.

Normally Dr quack would have forbid such an action for a patient who had just awoken, demanding that they rest first, but one look into the child's eyes told him that perhaps in this case he could make an exception.

The duck gave a small smile"Sure, I'll go get her, but in the mean time just relax a bit ok?" he said, calmly.

Tails nodded as he eased back against the pillow as Dr quack left the room.

Outside in the waiting area, both sonic and sally where sitting in the various chairs in the room, a look of anxiety and worry was etched

on the robian's face as her hedgehog companion placed his metal hand on her back, doing his best to comfort her.

It was then that Dr quack walked up to the two as they looked up at him, both of them readying themselves for any kind of news on tail's condition.

Dr quack let out a small cough to clear his throat.

" He's awake, and from what I can tell he should make a quick recovery in a few days" he said as both Sonic and Sally let out a sigh of relief.

"So he'll be ok then right? Sally asked, a small hint of worry still in her voice.

The duck physician nodded " positive. In fact he asked me if he could talk to you." he said with a smile on his face.

Sally looked towards sonic, who only gave her a nod.

" go on Sal, no sense keeping him waiting" he said as he gave her one of his trademark smiles.

A few moments later Sally came up near the doorway to tail's room, letting out a anxious sigh as she readied herself.

A small knock came to the side of the doorway" Tails?" she said softly as the young fox looked up to the robian.

Tails gave her a small smile.

" Hey aunt sally" he said quietly as she walked over and pulled up a chair next to the side of his bed.

"Hey" she said gently " how are you feeling?" concern creeping into her voice as she carefully placed her hand on his.

Tails offered her a bigger smile " A little dizzy but ok I guess" he said with a small laugh.

"Thank goodness, I was so worried." she said as she breathed a sigh of relief.

Tails looked up at her, a hint of concern now appeared on his face.

" Those people didn't hurt you did they?" he asked.

Sally looked back at the child, surprised and touched by his concern for her safety rather then his own.

She shook her head as she gave him a loving smile "No, I'm fine" she said reassuringly, alleviating the fox boy's worry.

"Does that mean your going to stay then?" He asked as he looked into her eyes.

In response she nodded softly as she gently placed her hand on the side of his cheek.

A excited smile formed on tail's face as he rose from his bed slightly and gave her a big hug.

Sally was totally taken off guard.

"T..Tails, you shouldn't be moving around so much" she said worryingly.

"I'm so sorry for the way I was acting aunt sally, I was just so scared that I....I " he didn't finish as he held onto her.

A shocked look appeared on Sally's metallic face.

"Tails...why are you apologizing? I should be the one to..."

But before she could finish, tails cut her off.

"Aunt sally, you don't need to apologize, I know that you would never hurt me, and right now I'm just glad your not leaving" he said happy as he continued to hug her..

Sally blinked a few times as tears began to form in her eyes, the pain and heartache surging though her from before slowly washed away as she gently hugged the young fox back.

Tails heard the sound of sniffling, he then looked up an noticed that sally was crying.

"Aunt sally? whats wrong?" he said worryingly.

She looked down at him, a loving smile graced her features " I'm just so happy" she said as she hugged him again.

Though slightly confused Tails simply returned her embrace.

"I love you Aunt sally" he said gently, a relaxed smile forming on his face.

"I love you too Tails" she whispered as the young fox and robian held their embrace as sonic looked on from the doorway, a calm smile on his face.

-

Robotropilis

Central command

Awe inspiring would have been the word in Snively's mind as he stared with sinister glee at his new troops.

"I would certainly love to see the the freedom fighters try to enter my city with these patrolling the streets" he said as he walked in between the single file ranks of combat robian troops, with Hal right behind him typing a way at a datapad

."As per your orders we have had all available units equipped with all necessary armaments and combat gear." the swatbot said calmly as he handed his master the datapad showing the tech specs of the CR armor and weapons"

Snively snatched the pad from the bot's hand" Hmmm, it seems we might be a little behind schedule, I see here that we only have 150 CRs fully equipped and ready for combat" Snively said annoyingly as he tossed the pad back to Hal"

The swatbot stumbled slightly, caught of guard by the datapad tossed in his direction."Sir with stations 2 and 4 still down we dare not risk taxing the system, the energy required to maintain the output for the Combat roboticizer stations have been very demanding." Hal said apologetically.

Snively stopped in his tracks and turned to face the Swatbot."I don't' want excuses Hal, I want results." he said darkly as he glared into Hal's visor.

The Bot raised his hands defensively as if expecting to be struck" I can pull a few more swatbots from the security stations and replace them with the new CR troops, that way we'll have be able to have the remaining stations running again soon, plus it will give the CRs a necessary trial run should any freedom fighters enter the city" Hal said, his voice slightly shaky.

Snively looked at the bot dead in the face, his eyes squinting slightly,but then he looked down to the ground as if in thought.

He then looked back up at Hal with a smirk on his face"Thats what I like about you Hal, always quick to find a solution to a problem" the overlander said as looked up at one of the many CR troops.

"Thank you sir" he said wearily as he took his side next to his master as he watched him inspect the trooper in front of them.

The trooper in question had at one time been a wolf, now completely re-robotized and dawned in heavy set jet black armor that covered him from head to toe the symbol of Snively's new regime painted into the shoulder pad, a stylized S taken from the overlander alphabet. Underneath the armor was a Kevlar coated fabric that covered any exposed joints of the CR,both allowing movement and protection. In it's armored gloved hands was a rather large caliber energy rifle, the GX-14-A to be exact, a heavy modified variant of a weapon that was once used during the great war by the old overlander army. On its head was a heavily armored helmet combined with a faceplate that did well to not only protect, but also enhanced its fearsome appearance as the robian's blood read eyes glowed brightly.

"Magnificent isn't it" Snively said as he stared in awe at the imposing killing machine before him.

Hal looked at the Trooper, it's glowing pupils staring back at him menacingly.

"indeed sir" he said shakingly.

Snively gave a snap of his fingers which immediately made the trooper turn it and snap to attention.

"Sir." it bellowed in a booming metallic voice as it raised it's hand to it's head in a salute.

"Trooper, what are your primary directives?" Snively stated as he stared into the CR's crimson eyes.

"Priority one. capture and or destroy any and all threats to master snively. Priority two. Ensure the stability and order of all activities within or through out all territories under the control of master Snively. perform any and all orders given to master Snively and to carry out said orders by any means necessary" the Trooper shouted out, it's tone strong and fierce.

Snively grinned evilly as he nodded in approval.

"Excellent" he said as he turned away from the trooper, Hal following behind.

-

Knothole

Nightfall

Lookout watchtower,

Highest point in the Great forest,

Sonic leaned against the railing as he looked outward towards Robotropilis.

The pollution spewing metropolis was more active then before as smoke billowed from it's various factories and production plants as Snively's race to get the city back in working order continued on.

"Probably churning out bots by the hour., And that spells mondo bad news for us." he thought bitterly as he stared out towards the distance.

It was then that the sound of heavy set boots stirred him from his night watch duties as he turned to see Sally stepping off the ladder onto the platform, a backpack in her hand.

"Hey Sal," he said pleasantly, not quite sure what she was doing up on the lookout, but on the other hand certainly didn't mind the company, especially if it was sally.

The robian gave the hedgehog a smile as she set down the backpack on the the platform's wood plank floor while unzipping it.

"Thought you might get hungry on watch duty." she said as she pulled out two apples from the backpack, tossing one to sonic who caught it expertly without so much as bruising it.

Sonic gave a small smirk as sally looked on, impressed.

"You learned pretty fast" she said as she walked up and leaned onto the railing next to sonic.

"Well what can I say Ive always been a fast learner, but then again Bunnie's a pretty good teacher too." he said as he looked down at the apple in the palm of his metallic hand.

"Hmm.....think I would have perfered a chilidog instead " he groaned as he took a bite of the apple.

Sally looked on at her friend. "or should I say boyfriend." she thought to herself, a small flash of red coming to her cheeks as she looked out towards the city, taking a bite out of the apple in her hand.

About a minute or two sally noticed that sonic was staring at her, his eyebrow raised in a quizzical manner as if something was wrong. At first she wasn't quite sure what he was staring at

her for, but the realized it as she looked at her partially eaten apple.

Sally swallowed what was in her mouth.

"Oh your probably wondering about this right? she said as she raised the fruit to add emphasis.

"Umm a little bit" he said in a questioning tone.

"Long story short. It seems this body of mine requires organic matter to recharge my systems" she said plainly as she took another bite of her apple.

"Hmmm guess that beats having to find an outlet to plug yourself in eh?" the hedgehog said jokingly as he grinned widely.

Sally at first gave Sonic a sideways glare, causing the hedgehog's smile to drop instantly, but then suprised him with a smile of her own and then gave a soft chuckle.

"Yeah I suppose so." she giggled as she leaned closer to sonic, who in turn wrapped his arm around her as they both looked out towards the starlit sky.

Sonic let out a deep sigh.

"Been one heck of a day hasn't it? First, I'm taking a crash course in body control, Made leader of the freedom fighters, and quelled a riot all in one afternoon" he said in an exasperated tone.

Sally nodded as she cuddled up next to the now blushing hedgehog.

"With the way you handled that situation, I have no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision in making you leader." she said softly.

Sonic gave her a suspicious look as he raised an eyebrow "No doubt huh?"

"Well.....maybe a little" she said hesitantly as sonic gave her a deadpan look, which in turn caused the robian princess to giggle a bit.

"Just kidding" she said playfully as she nudged him with her elbow.

Sonic gave her a grin of his own as he looked into her eyes.

"Sounds like your feeling a lot better since this morning" he said, noting how Sally didn't seem to be in the depressive slump she had been in for the past two days.

"Lets just say I've finally come to terms with my situation" she said softly.

" I tried to convince everyone around me to simply move on and not dwell on what happened to me and you, but the only one who had the most trouble moving on was me" she sighed as she closed her eyes.

Sonic looked at her, a contemplative look on his face.

"So what changed?" he asked.

"It was only after talking with Rosie and tails that I realized, despite what's happened, I'm still me, and thats what should matter and not weather I'm metal or not." sally said as sonic nodded in agreement, a soft smile forming on his face.

Sonic pulled her closer till the two where now face to face, looking lovingly into each others eyes " Isn't that what I've been telling ya since the night at the lake? " sonic said as he gave her a playful smirk.

Sally looked into the blue hedgehog's vibrant green eyes, a small blush forming on her metallic face.

" I know, but I guess It took me a while to believe it myself" she said gently as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Sonic said nothing as he leaned in closer and gave sally a passionate kiss, the princess closed her eyes as she returned it.

After a good solid minute the two young lovers broke off their display of affection, both of them blushing brightly. as they held each other close.

"Glad to have ya back Sal." he whispered as the they looked out towards the moonlit night , a content smile gracing both of their faces.