Sonic the Hedgehog: Quick To Judge By Jesse Nelson (ffr@hotmail.com) Down the halls of a great palace a young Sally walked down to get a midnight snack. Being around her friends she learned to bend the rules a little, but not much. Actually this was the first time she had done this. To her right she heard a thud. Curiosity quickly overcame her and she went to investigate. Just as she reached for the door it opened and someone came out. He knocked her over as he ran past. The figure turned around to see what he ran into. The princess caught a glimpse of the figure. He was a cat. She also saw a little glimmer from his hands but couldn't tell what it was because the cat quickly took off. There was some other noise in the room. She turned and looked in and saw the same cat over a body, holding a blood-covered knife. The cat turned a stared at her. "I didn't do it," he said, "I didn't do it." ******** In Knothole, Sally quickly opened her eyes from the short nap she was having. She tried to remember the dream that woke her up but couldn't. Sally turned and looked out the window of her hut. It was late in the afternoon. She saw Tails running toward her hut calling her name. "Aunt Sally," shouted Tails, "Aunt Sally, Sonic's back." "I'm coming Tails," said Sally. Sally stood up from her chair and stretched for a moment. Then she walked out just as Sonic reached the village. "Hey Sal," said Sonic, "you look beat." "Yah," said Sally, "I just woke up." "What, you were taking a nap?" "Yes. Anyway what did Uncle Chuck find out?" "Uh, oh, Robotnik is transporting a group of Mobians from the cat country." "When?" Sonic glanced at his watch for a second, "Five minutes ago. He said it will take about three hours before the reach Robo-vil. Oh," Sonic pulled out a small disk, "here, old Unc said these are the plans and route the transport will be taking." Sally took the disk and pulled out Nicole. "Nicole, read disk." "Reading Sally." "How can we stop the transport with minimal injury to the prisoners?" Nicole displayed a layout of the transport and points of where to hit it at. She also displayed where on the route to do the operation. ******** Robotropolis was quiet, except for the running machinery and patrols. Robotnik sat in his command chair watching a transport on one of his viewing monitors. Standing next to Robotnik was a large Swatbot. This bot was larger than the normal size Swatbot. It had all the same characteristics and looks of a Swatbot. He had one extra feature, a large pack unit on it's back. "Once this new cloaking device is tested, shall I be equipped with it?" asked Swatbot. "No my dear Striker," replied Robotnik, "but if you were a normal mindless bot, then yes." "Why not?" "I made you to out-think any creature on this planet, therefore it is artificial intelligence. If I equip you with a cloak you will more dangerous than me. I cannot have that. No, only Swatbots will be equipped with the cloak, if the test is successful." Striker was recently created but knew Robotnik was right. He was dangerous, and cloaking would make him nearly unbeatable. Striker didn't mind that though. ******** Sonic, Sally, Bunnie, and Rotor hid near a yellow meadow. Over the meadow anugly gray hovercraft was floating by. "There's the transport, Sonic," said Sally as she handed him a large bag, "you know what to do." "Of course I do," Sonic took the bag and ran down to the hovercraft. As he ran down, he pulled out a charge that was in the bag. He quickly placed it near a hover lift. He pulled out another one and placed it by another lift. Sonic was finished with the lifts and now was placing charges near concealed gun ports on the sides and top of the transport. Sonic had just finished placing the last charge in top and was approaching the edge. Before running off though Sonic ran into something. "Whoa," shouted Sonic as he got on his feet, "what'd I hit?" Sonic looked around but didn't see anything. Sonic jumped off the transport towards the others. "Ready Sal," said Sonic. "Now, Rotor," said Sally. Rotor pressed a button on a remote, detonating the charges Sonic planted. The transport came crashing to the ground. Black smoke seeped out from the damaged hover lifts and main engines. The four member rescue-party quickly went down to the transport. Sonic and Bunnie were the first to reach it. "Come on Bunnie hurry up," shouted Sonic. "I'm coming," shouted Bunnie. Bunnie went up to the hover craft and grabbed the hatched door, ripping it out. Sonic quickly went in. There were sparks flying from exposed wiring and flames from busted panels, but there was something missing. "Where is everybody?" shouted Sonic. Bunnie soon came in, "My stars, where is everybody?" "I don't know." Further into the hovercraft they could hear a faint mumble. Sonic and Bunnie quickly make it to a door. Sonic grabbed the handle but didn't pull it back, "It's hot!" "Here, let me try." Bunnie pushed Sonic out of the way and opened the door. The room was filled with fire. About eight cats walked out coughing. "Hey is there anyone left in there," asked Sonic. "There are *cough* two more in there," replied a cat. "Go." Sonic went into the fire-filled compartment looking for any other survivors. He found one body but could barely look because it was engulfed in flames. Then he found the other who was still alive and breathing, but knocked out. Sonic picked him up and carried the cat out of the transport. When Sonic got outside, Sally, Bunnie and the cat prisoners were all in mid-air with their hands behind their backs. "What's going on here," asked Sonic? Suddenly Swatbots began to materialize behind everyone. Sonic soon felt himself being lifted upward. "Hey." Sonic looked around and saw that a Swatbot had caught him. Sonic couldn't hold on to the cat so he fell. Sonic began to move his legs to get away. "Halt," shouted a Swatbot. "Do not attempt to escape." "Why not, bolt brains?" Sonic still struggled. "I have orders to terminate the Princess if you do." The Swatbot held Sally up, holding her arms as though it was going to pull them out. Sonic stopped moving. He couldn't let Sally get killed or hurt. Suddenly out of nowhere three daggers hit the Swatbot in the head, causing it to drop Sally. Just as Sally hit the ground, a blast tore the Swatbot apart. Sonic felt the Swatbot holding him shutter, then felt is grip go weak. Sonic reached the ground and looked at who saved him. It was the cat he had brought out. "Shut up and get the others," shouted the cat just as Sonic opened his mouth. Sonic did as he was told. He went into his sonic spin and buzzed through most of the Swatbots. Suddenly another hovercraft came crashing into a few Swatbots. Driving was Rotor. "Come on, get in," shouted Rotor as he opened the hatch. Bunnie and the cats except one got in the hovercraft. "Go Rotor," shouted Sonic, "I'll get Sally." Rotor left as Sonic ran for Sally. As Sonic picked up the princess he saw a large hatch open on the transport, but nothing came out. Then he noticed the grass being trampled by something coming towards him from the hatch. The other cat soon came to help Sonic. "Hey you," said Sonic, "take the princess towards the forest, I'll take care of the bots." The cat didn't hesitate, he also saw the grass falling over. In his hands was a large blaster and he fired it above the trampled grass. He must have hit something, because there was an explosion. Sonic was buzzing through the invisible Swatbots, trying to take down as many as possible. He stopped figuring he got all of them. Suddenly a blast rang out, hitting Sonic's right leg. Sonic crouched down holding his leg. As he did, a Swatbot materialized in front of him. "Halt or you will be terminated," said the bot aiming a wrist mount blaster at Sonic. "I don't think so." Sonic grabbed a handful of dirt and tossed it at the Swatbot. Some of the dirt particles leaked past the Swatbot's armor into its fragile circuitry. It quickly shorted out. Sonic ran away into the forest, ignoring the pain in his leg. ******** Sally slowly came around. She was set against a tree and the first face she saw was a cat's. The cat didn't seem to be too happy to see Sally up. He felt a little uncomfortable. "Princess Sally," said the cat. "You just call me Sally," she said. Sally stood up but felt a pain in her shoulder and held it. "Are you ok?" "I'm fine. The bot just pulled a little too hard." "Can you move your arm." "It hurts trying," said Sally as she moved it a little. "It might be dislocated." "Where are we?" "I was hoping you would know." "Somewhere in the Great Forest, but I don't recognize this area." Suddenly a blast shot out at them. They both looked in the direction of the blast and saw some of the underbrush being moved around. Another rang out. The cat drew out a knife and threw it, hoping to hit something. He did. Then he drew out his blaster and fired at the area where the knife was. A Swatbot appeared and fell to the ground. "Looks like blue boy didn't get them all," said the cat. "Maybe I should recruit you as a Freedom Fighter," commented Sally as she pulled out Nicole. They both walked to the Swatbot. The cat drew out the knife from the Swatbot. As Sally looked at the knife she began to see something else. She saw the knife against the darkness stained red. "Princess," called the cat, "princess?" Sally got out of her daze, "Oh sorry. Uhm, what do I call you?" "Rick, Rick Kuts." "Rick... you look familiar." "I'm sure I do," Rick began to feel a little uncomfortable, "I was with the Mobian travelling circus." "Oh yah." Sally knelt down and hooked Nicole to the Swatbot. "The Kuts twins. I was a little scared of your act though. Nicole, download Swatbot memory banks." I'm not surprised, thought Rick. "Well it's an one cat act as of now." "What happened?" Sally looked up to the cat. "My brother was caught in the fire on that decoy transport." "Decoy?" "Yah. The Swatbots took ten of us away from the others and stuck us in that transport." "I'm sorry." "Don't be." He got what he deserved. "Download complete, Sally," voiced Nicole. "What's new about it?" "Laser upgrade, larger memory capacity, cloaking unit." "Cloaking?" "And backup system." The Swatbot's eyes glowed to life and sat it up. It quickly grabbed Sally, but fell back to the ground as its head exploded. "That was close," said Sally as she backed away for the bot. "Yah," said Rick, "good thing I'm a good shot as well as a good knife thrower." "Lucky me." ******** Striker just finished talking to a Swatbot and now was reporting to Robotnik. "Robotnik," called Striker. "Yes," replied Robotnik. "The primary transport from the cat country has just arrived." "Excellent. Begin roboticizing them." "Yes." Striker left as Robotnik continued to watch his invisible Swatbots hike through the Great Forest. ******** Sonic limped quickly into Knothole. "Sonic," called Bunnie, "what happened?" "One of the bots got me," said Sonic, "I'll be alright." "Where's Sally?" "Oh man. One of cats took her into the Great Forest while I was taking out the Swatbots." "Sonny," called out a familiar voice. "Unc?" "I forgot to tell you Sonic, your uncle's here," said Bunnie. "Unc, what are you doing here?" "Delivering bad news," said Chuck. "What's wrong?" "The transport you took out was a decoy. The real transport already reached Robotropolis, and Robotnik's already roboticizing the cats." "What?!" "That's why the transport was empty," said Bunnie. "And," added Chuck, "Robotnik is testing a new cloaking unit." "Cloaking?" questioned Sonic. "Something that makes things invisible." "Perfect. How can we fight Robotnik if we can't even see the Swatbots." "Calm down, Sonic. The cloaking device only bends natural light. There are other forms in seeing them. Infrared for example." "Infra what?" "Infrared. It sees things in heat instead of color. I was about to see Rotor about building a set infrared goggles when you came." "How long?" "I don't know." "Great. I'm here with a shot up leg and Sally is out in the Great Forest with a strange cat and who knows how many invisible Swatbots. I mean last I've seen her she was being carried off." "Is that jealousy I hear," said Bunnie. "No. Why should I be jealous?" "Maybe it's because someone else carried Sally off in his arms instead of you." "No." "Worried what Sally's going to do when your not around?" "No, I'm worried about what the cat and Swatbots will do when I'm not around." ******** Rick and Sally just ran into a cave. They were both soaked and the cave had a lot of loose dirt. The area of the Great Forest they were in was getting rain, and a lot of it. "I guess we'll be staying here until this passes," said Rick. "Spring rains," said Sally. "I don't know whether to be thankful or not for it." "Why?" "One, it's late and we might have to stay here for the night. Two, the Swatbots don't perform well in the mud." "I see your point. At least you're not far from home." "I'm sorry about what happened." "It's not your fault. You didn't know." Rick looked outside, it was dark. Not from the rain clouds though. Dark as in the sun setting. He turned to Sally. He was still a little uncomfortable being around her. He noticed that she was shivering. Rick took off his coat and laid it on Sally's shoulders. "Won't you be cold?" asked Sally. "No," said Rick, "my circus uniform keeps me warm enough. Besides, I only wear the coat because I look good in it." Rick was in a bright loose outfit. He was also wearing a belt with a lot of knifes in sheath. On his right his blaster hung from the belt. "I'm going to get some wood," said Rick, "we're going to need a fire." Rick left into the rain. "Be careful," said Sally as he left. ******** Sonic looked out his window as the rain began to fall. Sally hadn't come back and he was worried. He would go out and look for her even with a bad leg, but with the mud he wouldn't be able to look for long. Outside Tails ran from Bunnie's hut to his. He stopped and looked towards Sonic's hut. Tails could see Sonic's sad face at this distance. Tails knew Sally meant a lot to him. "Maybe I could go out looking for Aunt Sally," said Tails, "after all I'll be looking from the air." Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and the sound of thunder. "Maybe not." Tails ran to his hut and turned on all the lights. ******** Rick wasn't too far away from the cave as he picked up medium size pieces of wood. Rick knew he stuck out like a sore thumb in the forest. He was hoping that there were no Swatbots around now. Suddenly Rick heard something. A sloshing sound. He turned to see what it was. What he saw was the outline of a Swatbot in the rain. He also saw a bright red dot. "Oh shit." Rick dove for cover as the Swatbot fired. The gathered firewood was now shattered in a small area. Rick quickly pulled out his blaster and fired at the bot. It fell into the mud but remained invisible. Rick had to act quickly because of the backup system. He jumped on the Swatbot and blasted what he thought was the head. The bot became visible now. Rick could see some internal circuitry from the chest plate and what remained of the head. "Another one down," said Rick. Yah but how many more are out there, he thought. Rick gathered the firewood and hiked back to the cave. "Rick, are you alright?" asked Sally as the mud covered cat walked in. "I heard some blasters." "I'm ok," said Rick, "I got the firewood." ******** "You know Uncle Chuck," said Rotor, "you look a little gruesome like this." "We had to do it Rotor," said Chuck, "my optics are the only working infrared lenses we have. I can see plenty with one eye." "I hope Sonic doesn't come. He'll freak out." "Come on Rotor we have to finish this as soon as possible." Rotor and Chuck continued to work into the night trying to create a set of infrared goggles. ******** Rick just finished placing the wood in two separate piles. He took out his blaster and fired at one of the piles at a low setting. He held a constant beam until the pile was ablaze. Meanwhile Sally had Nicole out. Nicole was projecting an image of a poster. The poster had a picture of two identical cats. "I still have that poster," said Rick. Sally was a little startled. "I was just checking the files on the Mobian Traveling Circus. Uhm, which one is you?" "I'm on the right." "How do you know?" "When Larry an I got our pictures taken he always stayed on the left I was on the right." "How did others tell you apart?" "The three rule." "What's that?" "Actually it's either three R's or three L's. People notice our eyes a lot, being we both have a natural black eye." Sally did notice the black fur around one of his eyes. "Well the three R's apply to me; Rick, right, right eye. The three L's appl ied to Larry; Larry, left, left eye. Coincidence." Sally took a good look at Rick. The black was around the right eye. She glanced at the poster again and saw the difference between the to. "Wow." As Sally looked at the poster she soon went into a daze. She began to see things. She turned as Rick put another stick into the fire, but Sally saw it differently. Rick stayed in the image Sally was seeing. The fire was replaced with a body and the stick a knife. Rick just placed the stick in the fire when he noticed Sally in a daze. "Princess? Princess? Sally? Hello?" He walked up to her but as he got at arms reach from her she fainted. "Oh no." He set her up and checked her pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief. "At least I don't have to take you to your room this time." Rick carefully laid Sally down and put his trenchcoat over her. I think she's starting to remember, thought Rick, if she does I am in a lot of trouble. "Good night Princess Sally." Rick did nothing more than walked away. He sat across from the fire opposite of Sally. "Good night." ******** Robotnik sat still watching the viewing monitor. He was very upset at the recent occurrence. "Blast," shouted Robotnik, "there are flaws in the cloaking unit." "Is there a problem Robotnik?" asked Striker. "The cloaking module is decreasing the integrity of the Swatbot outer armor. Mud and rain water shorting them out." "I am pleased to know that I will not be integrated with one." "I might reconsider and have it mandatory." "How many units are left?" asked Striker, trying to change the subject. "Four. But their armor does not seem to be degrading." ******** Sonic was in the kitchen with a chili dog on the table, but he wasn't sitting at the table. He was pacing around, worry written all over his face. Everyone in the kitchen had noticed it. They all knew what was wrong with Sonic, but nothing could be helped about it. No one knew where Sally was. "Sonic," someone called out, "is there a problem?" "Well, in case you didn't hear the news Unc," said Sonic, "Sally hasn't come back yet." "I know. Sonic, we got the goggles ready. If you want, why don't you go looking for her when your leg is better." "Where would I start looking?" "Why don't you check around the transport? They couldn't have gone far." "Your right." Sonic's spirit was coming back. "Where are the goggles?" "Right here." Uncle Chuck held out the goggles. Sonic quickly took them and ran out. "He forgot breakfast." Uncle Chuck advanced to the chili dog when suddenly Sonic zoomed back in. "Forgot about breakfast." Sonic took the chili dog and stuffed it into his mouth, then took off again. ******** Down the halls of King Acorn's palace Sally walked down to get a midnight snack. She walked cautiously and quietly. Suddenly from her right she heard a thud. Curiosity overcame her and she went to investigate. Just as she reached for the door it opened and someone came out. He knocked her over as he ran past. The figure turned around to see what he ran into. The princess caught a glimpse of the figure. He was a cat. This cat had black and white fur. She glanced at the cat's face and noticed black fur around his eye. A red glimmer took her attention before she could memorize what side the black was on. She couldn't tell what the glimmer was either, because the cat quickly took off. There was some other noise in the room. She turned and looked in and saw the same cat over a body, holding a blood-covered knife. She noticed the face. The black fur was on the right eye. It was Rick. Rick turned and stared at her. "I didn't do it," he said, "I didn't do it." ******** Sally woke up in the cave. The sun was out. Rick was sitting at the mouth of the cave. He killed the Ring Master, thought Sally, but why is he nice to me? He knows I saw him. "Sally," called Rick as he walked toward her. "Princess, is there something wrong?" "Uh, uhm, nothing," stuttered Sally. "Good, come. There may still be a few Swatbots out there, but I think I can handle them." Rick reached out to help Sally up, but Sally got up on her own, leaving the coat on the ground. "Okay." Rick picked up his coat and put it on. When he looked up, Sally was gone. "Sally? Princess?" Rick ran to the mouth of the cave. He barely managed to see Sally run into the forest. "Princess, wait!" Rick ran out after her. Sally was deep into the forest, running as fast as she could, trying to get as far away from Rick as possible, afraid of what he might do if he caught her. "Princess, stop," shouted Rick as he followed behind. Sally didn't yell back. She continued running until she hit something. After getting up from the mud-covered ground she looked at what she had hit. There was a tree, but it was twenty feet away. Suddenly she felt herself being lifted off the ground by her neck. Sally grabbed on to whatever was holding her and struggled to get away. "Princess, no." Rick brought out his blaster and shot at where he thought the Swatbot was. Rick hit the bot. Sally fell to the ground and the Swatbot appeared. Then the bot fell. "Princess, are you alright?" Rick went up to her. "Stay away, I know what you did!" said Sally. She finally remembers, thought Rick. "Princess, let me explain." "You killed him! I saw it!" "You saw me holding the knife. I didn't kill him, Larry did." "YOU did, I remember!" "If you saw me then you saw Larry, too. I didn't do it." Suddenly the Swatbot stood up. It blasted Rick and advanced on Sally. Sally ran, but hit another Swatbot. She couldn't see it, but knew it was there. Rick stood up behind Sally and shot the Swatbot that shot him. This time it stayed on the ground. Meanwhile the cloaked Swatbot in front of Sally took aim and shot Rick in the back. Then it picked up Sally. "Help," shouted Sally, "help!" "Lay off, tin man." Sonic came with a Sonic Spin, cutting the Swatbot in half. "Sonic!" "Sally!" "Sonic, we have to go." "What about the cat?" Sonic knelt down by the cat and pulled up the goggles he was wearing. "There's no time. We got to go." "Sally, he's hurt." "Sonic let's go!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him up. "What's the matter with you, Sally?" Suddenly a blast rang out. Sally got hit several times and fell to the ground. "Sally, no." Sonic quickly picked up Sally and ran off. The Swatbot walked over, decloaked and picked up Rick. He was still breathing, but barely. ******** Young Sally quietly walked down the hall of her father's great palace. A noise to her right drew her attention. Young curiosity quickly overcame her and she went to investigate. Just as she reached for the door it opened and a figure came out. The figure knocked her over as he ran past. The figure turned around to see what he ran into. The princess caught a glimpse of the figure. He was a cat. This cat had black and white fur. She glanced at the cat's face and noticed black fur around his eye. Things seemed to slow. Sally saw the black fur around the left eye. She glanced down at a red glimmer on the cat's hand. It was blood. Then the cat quickly dashed off. Another noise from the room made her look in. There was another cat over a body, holding a blood-covered knife, but none on his hands. Rick turned a stared at her. He was scared. Sally saw that. "I didn't do it," said Rick, "I didn't do it." ******** Sally woke up. She sat up and looked at her surroundings. She was in a hut in Knothole. Sally went to thinking about her dream. Rick didn't kill him, thought Sally, I hope he's alright. "Sally, your awake," said a white cat in a white doctor's coat. "Kathy," said Sally, "how long have I been out?" "A few hours." "Where's Rick?" "Who?" "The cat I was with." "Sonic only brought you back." "No," said Sally faintly. She brought her hands to her face covering it, "What did I do?" "Princess, is there something wrong?" Sally didn't answer. The fact that she had misjudged someone hit her hard. Even harder, knowing that he was captured by Robotnik for it. Sonic came through the door. "Hey Sal, you're up," he said. "Sonic, I don't think now is a good time," said Kathy. "What's up, Kat?" "Was there a cat with her when you found her?" "Yah, but she didn't like the guy for some reason." Suddenly Sally got off the bed and ran past Sonic. "Sally, wait up," shouted Sonic. He was about to go after her when Kathy grabbed his shoulder. "Sonic, I think she needs to be alone." "But..." "Sonic." Sonic watched as Sally ran into her hut. He didn't feel all too excited now. Sally was contemplating her dreams with Rick's story. The cat that knocked me over, thought Sally, he was the one running away. His hands where covered with blood. His brother, Larry. Rick was right, I only saw him with the knife. I killed him. He didn't do it. "How can I forgive myself," said Sally, "how could I?" THE END