A World Gone Mad - A Sonic Fan Fiction chronicling the Coup ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Written by: Aaron Lye (prower@pacific.net.sg) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LEGAL STUFF Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are fully owned and copyrighted by one or more of the following: Sega of America, Sega Enterprises (Japan), DiC and/or Archie Comics. Several characters used within this work of fan fiction may have been the creations of this or another author. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This story's main characters are: King Acorn Julian Sir Charles and supported by: Sonic Sally Bunnie Antoine Rotor Julayla - Dan Drazen ? Rosie - Dan Drazen ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TIME REFERENCE: Mobian Year 3224 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ King Acorn sat in the throne room of the royal palace of Mobotropolis and looked out at the city. It had been quite some time since the last Great War, and the people of this planet were starting to get complacent. This was not a good development. He would have to do something about this soon. His train of thought was broken as a small light blue figure walked through the doorway. Acorn smiled as he recognized one of his knights and old friends. Sir Charles walked up to the throne, bowed, and smiled. Acorn nodded at the hedgehog, "Charles, I see you finally decided to leave that laboratory of yours. To what do I owe the honor of your company this morning?" Charles spoke, "I came to tell you that I've completed work on SLORS, the Synthetic Limb and Organ Replacement System." Acorn smiled, "These technical names.. they puzzle me. Remind me again which of your marvelous inventions this is?" Charles obliged, "This device will allow us to convert failing organs and limbs in any race to synthetic, probably metallic alloy, versions of the original part. That will allow the appendage or organ to function normally." Acorn nodded, "Good.. what about the portal..um..device?" Charles smiled, "That, you'll have to ask Julian. He's in charge of that project." Acorn frowned at that name. "I do not like that man. Something about him tells me I should not trust him." Charles smirked, "Sire, you've been saying that about him ever since you first met him, and he's proven you wrong time and again. He stood by you during the Great War, saved your life a couple of times too, for that matter.." Acorn shrugged it off, "Still... I can't make myself trust him completely. Go to him, tell him I want an update on the Portal Device." Charles nodded, bowed, and left the room. ***** Julian hurriedly shut off the monitor he had been watching intently when he heard the knock at his door. "Enter." He said, somewhat gruffly, unhappy to have been disturbed. Sir Charles walked through the door, and smiled at Julian. Julian forced a smile. "Oh, it's you, Sir Charles. What can I do for you? Please, take a seat." gesturing to a chair in front of his desk. Charles shook his head, "Sorry, Julian. I can't stay. Just came to deliver a message from Acorn. He wants an update on the Dimensional Portal Device. I suggest you get something ready." Julian nodded, then watched as Charles left. When the hedgehog was out of earshot, the human muttered to himself. "Oh, I'll get something ready for him... you can count on it." He reached into his drawer and pulled out a hand-sized control device. He pressed a button and a large portal formed, producing a loud crackling sound in the process, a portal that would later be known to lead into the realms of the Void... The human smiled. ***** Charles jumped when he heard the loud rapping on the door to his workshop. "Hey, Unc! You in there?" Charles sighed, "Sonic.. how many times have I told you not to disturb me when I'm working?" The door opened to reveal a blushing five year old hedgehog. "Oh..sorry, Uncle Chuck." The young hedgehog proceeded to plonk himself on a seat and watch his uncle work. "So, whatcha doin'?" Charles smiled, "This is the machine I was telling you about." Sonic nodded, "Yeah... the one which can give you robotic arms and legs?" His uncle nodded. ***** Julian watched his monitor, watched as Charles worked, saw Sonic walk into the room. He smiled. Charles may be smart, but even he didn't know of the surveillance cameras that had been placed in his workshop. The smile broke into a grin. The time was almost upon them. Julian carefully shut off the computer and the monitor, got up, and walked out of the room. ***** Sonic asked, "Uncle Chuck, can I go and play with Sal and the others?" Charles nodded, "You can go after lunch. I'm sure Princess Sally is busy at the moment." The younger hedgehog conceded, "OK...so, what's for lunch, anyway?" Charles quirked a smile, "What do you think?" "Alright!! Chili dogs!" Charles grinned as he shook his head. Kids.. such simple pleasures.. ***** Julian surveyed the bridge of the largest of his battleships, aptly named the Destroyer. He watched as it's robotic crew set about their tasks. Things were going according to plan. He looked at the large wall-mounted viewer, at the city of Mobotropolis displayed on it. It looked so clean, so peaceful and serene. Well, he'd do something about that. A robot drone turned to Julian, and spoke, "Sir, modifications to main laser array have been completed." Julian nodded, "Good." ***** After lunch, Charles brought Sonic over to the palace, and handed him over to Rosie, who would be looking after the five kids while they played. As usual, even before Charles could shut the door, Sonic and Sally had already started to argue. The hedgehog walked over to the throne room, to meet up with Acorn. He found the king there, staring out at the city. He knocked lightly on the door, "Am I disturbing you?" Acorn turned around and shook his head, "Not at all. Please, come in, old friend." Acorn gestured to the seat next to him, and Charles sat down. The king sighed, "You know, Charles, it's been so long since the last Great War, I'm beginning to worry that our people are starting to get complacent.." Charles nodded, "It's expected. Peace always brings about complacency. Although it has been said that the price of peace is constant vigilance." Acorn agreed, "Exactly what I am worried about..." He continued, "Life is like a wheel, Charles. It moves and turns, changing speed and velocity, but constantly moving. Like a wheel, life tends to repeat itself, especially if we do not learn from past mistakes. I am afraid that our wheel is about to complete a full circle, and bring us back into conflict..." Charles smiled, trying to allay the King's fears, "Sire, you worry too much." They chatted like the friends they were for over an hour, when Acorn remembered something. "Charles, I still haven't heard back from Julian about the portal device and I would very much like to know about it before I turn in today. Do you think you could go ask him for a presentation now?" Charles nodded, and got up to leave. Acorn called after him, "If he can't, get what info you can and bring it to me." ***** Charles knocked on Julian's door. When there was no response, he bypassed the security lock on the door and entered the room. No one. He sighed. The human must've gone on another of his long lunch breaks. No wonder he was so... round. The hedgehog glanced at the table top, looking for documents related to the Portal Device. All he saw were weapon acquisition reports for the battleships in Julian's Defense Ministry. Nothing out of the ordinary. He switched on the monitor, thinking perhaps the information was inside the computer, and gasped. On the screen, was Charles' workshop. As he looked at the monitor, he noticed a small flashing light on the bottom left corner. Activating that area, it brought up a mail message. A chill ran down Charles' spine as he read the message, saw what it was. A request report from one of the battleships to verify the time for the first strike on Mobotropolis. Charles rushed back to the throne room to inform the King that Julian was poised to attack the city in less than twenty minutes. Acorn took the information stoically, saying, "I knew I could never trust that man.." "Sire, we must escape now, while there is still time..." Acorn shook his head, "That will not be possible, old friend. For some time now, I have known that Julian has surveillance cameras everywhere around this palace, and he will notice if I try to flee, and will undoubtedly pursue me should I leave the palace grounds. For that reason, I cannot go to Knothole. You must take Sally there now. Go, Charles, before it is too late." Charles argued, "But, Sire, you are the monarch. You must be protected." Acorn smiled a grim smile, "There is nothing that can be done for me, old friend. Sally is heir to this throne, and it is much more important that she be protected, so that one day she may return to claim her birthright. Go now, Charles, for me and for the good of this planet." Charles looked at the king, a renewed sense of respect for Acorn filling him. "I will do as you say, your majesty." He bowed, and hurried out of the room. As he reached the door, he turned around and said, "But, I'm coming back for you." Acorn waved him away, "Do what you must. Just make sure Sally and her companions are safe." The door closed. ***** Charles burst into the playroom, startling both Julayla and Rosie. When the two adults saw the look on Charles' face, they knew something was wrong. He quickly informed them on what had transpired, and then turned to face the children present. Sonic and Sally were both here, as was Rotor, the son of one of the ministers, Antoine, the son of a member of the king's court, and Bunnie, a close friend of Princess Sally's. Sonic looked downcast, "Is it time to go already?" Charles looked at the young hedgehog, not knowing how to tell him. "Everyone, follow me. We have to go somewhere now." ***** Charles led the group out of the city through one of the quieter back alleys, to avoid attention. They made it through to the Great Forest without incident, the unsuspecting citizens of Mobotropolis going about their daily activities, ignorant of what was to happen. By now, some of the children were starting to question where they were headed, but they were quickly hushed by either Rosie or Julayla. Before long, the group had made it to the outskirts of the deserted village of Knothole. Charles nodded to the two adults, confirming that they knew their duty in the coming years, then turned to face Sonic. Charles spoke, "Sonic, from now on, you have to listen to what Rosie and Julayla tell you. They will be looking after the five of you for a while. Something is happening back in Mobotropolis, and I think it's best you live here for a while, while I go back and sort things out." Sonic asked, "Why can't I stay with you?" Charles shook his head, "It's too dangerous, Sonic. When you're older, you'll understand." Sonic started to look worried, getting a distinct feeling that this was the last time he'd see his uncle, "But I want to be with you, Uncle Chuck.." Charles firmly shook his head, "You're needed here, Sonic, just like I'm needed in Mobotropolis. You have to help look after Sally. That is something I want you to do. Can you do this for me?" Sonic pleaded with his uncle, not listening, on the verge of tears. "Please.. don't go..don't leave me...". With that, he broke down and cried. Charles grabbed hold of the younger hedgehog and forced him to stare straight into his eyes. "Sonic, I need you to be brave, now more than ever! Don't let me down! Stay here, and protect the Princess. Do you hear me, boy?" Sonic nodded, his eyes wet. "Good." Charles hugged Sonic tightly, then got up. "Always remember I love you, boy. Never forget that. Remember me, and I'll always be here, with you and beside you." With that, Charles walked away, back towards the forest. Towards Mobotropolis. Towards destiny. "Goodbye, Uncle Chuck...", Sonic tearfully whispered. Sir Charles Hedgehog disappeared into the dense foliage of the Great Forest. ***** As Charles raced back to Mobotropolis, he saw a large gray mass in the sky approaching the city from the other direction. Julian's destroyers were on their way and Charles knew how futile any resistance towards Julian would be. He was the Minister of Defense, commanding the entire defensive force of Mobotropolis. And since the defensive force consisted only of robot soldiers, the force was loyal to Julian, the one who had programmed them, rather than the rightful ruler.. Upon entering the city, his first impulse was to reach Acorn, to protect him and stand beside him when the inevitable occurred. However, what Acorn had said rang in his head. "Do what you must." Charles knew what that meant. His laboratory contained many inventions, inventions that Julian could use against the rest of the planet for his own selfish motives should his invasion on Mobotropolis be successful. It was clear what he had to do. He rushed to his laboratory, and immediately started dismantling his creations, starting with all the advanced weapon systems that he had been creating. As he worked, he heard the sound of energy beams being fired, and he knew the assault on the city had begun. Knowing that not much time remained, he quickened his pace, removing only the most essential part of each machine and destroying it. Soon, all the defensive and weapon systems he had been working on were destroyed. All that was left was the power ring apparatus and SLORS... He had only managed to dismantle the power ring device when Julian and a team of robots stormed the room. Charles immediately picked up an energy pistol and started firing at the robots. He took out three of them, before a laser beam grazed his arm, causing him to drop the weapon. Utilizing the opportunity, one of the robots grabbed hold of him, restraining the hedgehog. Julian smiled, "Sir Charles, as you know, I've been following your work on SLORS with interest, and I'm glad to inform you that I have made several improvements to your device. I have managed to incorporate the software into the main laser banks of the Destroyer, allowing it to be used against the population of Mobius..." Charles' mind raced as he try to understand what good would SLORS be as a weapon and gasped when he realized the answer. Total body synthesis. Each and every Mobian could be turned into a mindless robot, following each and every command that Julian issued. And all this could be blamed on him..Sir Charles..the one who had built SLORS.. Julian's smile turned into a grin. "Just thought you'd like to know that, Sir Charles, before I give you the honor of being the first Mobian to be... roboticized." Charles felt himself being unceremoniously dumped into his own creation and saw as the green beam washed over him, as he felt the anguish and the pain as he was changed into a creature of metal, as the atoms of his flesh were forced to mutate into atoms of metallic alloy, his veins turning into circuits and wires... Then, all feeling stopped, replaced with the cool, calculated logic of a machine. Sir Charles stepped out of the roboticizer once known as SLORS. "AWAITING COMMAND, DR. ROBOTNIK." Julian/Ivo Robotnik smiled. It had begun. Robotnik walked out of the room, followed by his SWATbots and the new robot known as Charles, and headed for the royal palace of Mobotropolis, with a small palm-sized control device in his hand... ***** An ominous shadow was cast over Mobotropolis as Julian's destroyer loomed menacingly overhead, red beams turning building into rubble, green ones turning Mobians into machine with machine-like precision. King Acorn took one last look at the city, knowing that this was probably the last time he would ever see it again. A tear ran down his cheek as he thought of Sally, how he was powerless to help her, and the world she would be forced to live in. A world of chaos, a world where life meant constantly running, living in fear of the day when one of Julian's hideous creations would discover her.. A world gone mad. He heard, rather than saw Julian and several of his machines storm the room. He heard the sound of the portal to the Void open in the throne room itself. He felt as the robots grabbed hold of him, as they brought him to his inevitable fate: Imprisonment in the Void. He felt himself being placed in the portal, felt the Void swirl around him, and saw the face of his Minister of Defense. Smiling. At him. Laughing. That was the last he saw of Mobius. His world. The portal started to shrink, but the human's laughter still rang in his ears. He whispered, "I'm sorry, Sally, my child. I'm sorry..." "Forgive me." The portal closed. ***** THE END