All is Fair in Love and War Part 2 Broadening Horizons <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Given a hand to hold, I'll take it and be ever so bold I'm not too young, I'll never be old The eyes of my future are silver and gold. Wrapping my arm around yours, Means we're partners in life's silly chores Wether together on burgandy shores, Or reciting the lyrics of ainchent lores. Seeing sadness in your eyes is strange to me, I've not seen it yet in the time we've been 'we'... I'll try to show you what hope there is to see, And hold strong to the fact that together we can be. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 3234, Juin, 7 Knothole <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> *Thrump* *Thrrump* Candelight reflected off the eyes of two, it's source flickering weak then strong again in a slight draft. The room was dim, sunlight dissipating slowly from the window on a hazy purple sunset. The two were leaning over a hardwood desk, where the candle stood with its circle of light. Wax slowly dribbled down its sides, over the hardened droplets of nights past. One was seated, a chair well mated to it's table shuffled up close to the desk. She, the seated, rested on an elbow, head bowed over the desk's surface. Her dark roughe hair brushed the table slightly, and her second hand lay over a yellowed paper, finge rs drumming on the wood. *Thrump* *Thrump* A gloved hand moved over hers, gently clenching the movment still. She shifted her head slowly to gaze up the arm,following the bare skin with her eyes up to a furred shoulder and a relaxed face. Sonic sqeezed Sally's hand tenderly, leaning over her. "I... I just hate not knowing... Sonic..." "Hush, I know..." Sonic lowered his eyes, glancing over the paper and the candle. Sally closed her eyes for a moment, sighing. "I don't like this at all, not knowing what to do.. Sir Charles;..." "Hasn't written back in quite a while, Sally... I know. I've been looking for him- but ol'Chuck's gotta be alright... It's only been a few days." Sally sighed again, rubbing her finger into the side of her brow. Sonic moved his hand along her shoulder and caressed the underside of an ear softly. "Please try to get some sleep, Sal. I'll go out tommorow to scout out some more, so don't worry yourself silly like you always do." "But..." Sally began to protest. Sonic leaned over and blew out the candle, then drawing back and kissing Sally's hair lightly. "G'night, Sal." He whispered, hands leaving her. Sonic made his silent reterat, shutting the door behind him before shooting off to check with other cohorts. Sally lingered for a moment, eyes low on the paper, scanning it's scrawled text one last time as best she could in the dimming light. Smoke curled up from the candle's cooling wick, tapering into oblivion before dying in the upper air. The squirrel finally left the table, pushing out her chair with a slow shove and leaving the room. As the last rays of sun died, the small scrap of paper, slightly wrinkled from overuse, lent it's scribbled mobian letters to the empty air. "Fellow FF's... Juin-02 "Odd activity in mines of the southern continent...transmissions between bots speak of finding null power sources...seems to indicate another of 'buttnick's strange plans. Cannot investigate main command- strange interference with audio spy sensors. Will investigate further, suggest you do as well. -Charles" <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> (A half of a day prior) having seen to the proper application of salves and bandages, as well as a quick x-ray by a medic-bot, Snively commanded the idiot robot to ship Robotnik to his quarters. He grinned snidely, reffering to his unconcious commandeer as "lardass" while adres sing a worker-bot to assist. The two bots made their way out of the command central's main entrance, carefully observing the status of their load. Snively mumbled lonesomely to himself, turning and climbing into the D.R.'s command chair and inspecting a particular spot of damadge in the arm. Whirring and clicking sounded from behind him where repairs were being completed, but Snively ignored them. An alert sounded from a speaker, and a display on one of the main moniters flickered into view. A large ship was docking in one of the Robotropolis harbors- a large and heavily armored craft with a crew of ten worker-bots and fourty swat-bots. Snively grinned, slamming a hand down on one of the chair's arrays. Pictures began to flick across the screen... Many, many rocks were spewed into view for several seconds, and then removed for the next. One particulary caught Snively's attention... a large red crystal, long and sheer like a dagger. At a time the screen flickered off, The sounds of the bots in the distance droning on. Snively yawned, rubbing an eye and working himself down into the same, relentless, monotone actions and silent visage of his companions. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> (Present) A soft cry broke the air; a murmur and a whimpering. A bead of perspiration collected on the brow of a sleeper, rolling across tawny-color fur until it dissapeared. The restless form tossed, a hand clenched deep into its pillow and body entwined in sweat -soaked blankets. The darkness had closed in entirely on this hut, its velvet-black folds clutching form and shadow away from sight. The air was thick with humidity, the only sound crawling in from the window... insects chirping, trees creaking and rustling in high breeze s. And the short, quiet sighs of the enthralled dreamer, Kimble, remeniscing in nightmares of times past. 'A wail broke out from a corner in the massed crowd... A middle-aged mother comforted her child into sniffles, looking up... Over the crowd, another middle-aged figure stood, watching over the heads of the people gathered. "I know you are afraid." He said in a deep, powerful voice. Several males in the crowd rumbled in agreement. The mother nickered to her child, holding it close. A second youth pawed at her leg, eyes questioning. "I myself do not understand the strange activities in the great city. Whatever happens, we must not panic!" A younger voice rang out from amongst the gathered- a male having just begun a family: "What ARE we to do then? Why do they in the south send these forces? We have NOT PROVOKED THEM!" The speaker nodded garevly at the young male. "Good question; but I have no answer. None of us know." At the back of the suddenly quiet, tense congregation, someone coughed and another shuffled about uneasily. The second youth mewled at her mother, whining with uneasiness. The leader once again adressed the crowd: "We have no choice but to defend ourselv es." The door to the meeting hall was flung open; a bystander yipped an indignant protest and jumped out of the way. A messanger stumbled in, ragged of breath from running. "They're here, Armada!" he shouted between panting and shoving forward into the crowd. "Just over the south ridge, four assault rigs and two garrisons of 'botic forces!" The man called Armada stared on for a moment and then lept off his speaking-platform, heading for the newcomer. "How far off are they?" Armada demanded. "Twenty minutes, sir..." With a loud yelp, Armada shouted instructions to the crowd; "Allright! all those with minimal training, head for your posts... Non-essential perssonel head for the mountain stronghold! Pause for no belongings, or you may not make it!" Kimble rowled lowly as the people around her stirred... within seconds her mother swept her up in an arm along with her younger sibling and moved quickly towards Kimble's father. "Armada! Where should I take the kids?" the mother asked, two feet from him and pressing eagerly forward. The tallish Armada intercepted Kimble's mother, grasping her shoulders and reasurring her shortly; "Go to the mountain stronghold with the other sevillians. Hurry, and don't wait for me!" "But..." Kimble reached a hand toward her father, mewling like the toddler she was. "Daddy!" Armada quickly embraced Kimble and pressed her back into her mother's arms. "There is no time... go now, I'll join you as soon as possible.: He turned quickly about without a sideways glance, and sprinted out the door with the frantic crowd. "Daddy!..." <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Bunnie shook Kimble harder, desparately trying to rouse her from her nightmare. Listening to the small child growl and whimper was enough to convince her that Kimble's rousal was neccessary, and now Bunnie's guest fought weakly against her in the throes of awakening. Kimble finally opened her eyes with a proteset, her arms dropping to her side. She glanced about, pupils dialating and her mind wallowing in post-R.E.M. sleep lethargy. Bunnie rocked back on her heels and reached out towards her night-stand, feeling along the surface for her oil-lamp. She found it with her flesh paw and drew it to her, coo'ing a soft reassurance to Kimble. The disturbed manx focused in on the light source and could barely make out a form at her bedside through the dim flicker of the lamp's low flame. Kimble hissed loudly at the glint of light against Bunnie's robotic shoulder, shuffling down lowly in her blankets and flattening her ears. "Aye child, what's wrong?" Bunnie cried and pulled the lamp closer to her face, peering down at Kimble. The manx pft'ed slightly as Bunnie's face came into view, sitting up slightly and sighing with relief. "Y'ok? Ah think y'all had ah nightmare..." Bunnie pressed closer, taking a view of Kimble's face. The manx shuffled a bit in her blankets, furr matted with moisture in rivulets down from the corners of her eyes. She responded to the cyborg rabbit with a flinch: "Hii...ya... I did." "Y'all right now, hon?" Bunnie raised an eyebrow. Kimble swallowed a little. "yah. S'nothing." Bunnie pressed the lamp close to Kimble's face, smiling as the manx flinched slightly. "All right... nah'y go back tah' sleep an' no more nighmares." <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Kimble roused in her bed, twisting lazily and yawning. The last of the night had been uneventful, thankfully; she had dropped off sharply into a sleepless slumber Her mind slowly came into focus; she was in a warm, soft bed. She had not been wakened by the Robotropolis prisoner's bell at the wee hours of the morning, and neither did she hear the ususal groans and complainings of her cellmates down in the holding c ells. Kimble popped open an eye. She was greeted by a soft, natural light, rather then the dimness of her normal corner in Robotropolis. A fuzzy ear perked atop her head; a few muffled sounds reached her- constant bird calls, a little bit of cricket chirping. Somewhere in the room, someone else was sleeping, their breathing regular and heavy. The young manx sat up and brushed the blankets off her lap, her feet touching down on the floor beneath her cot. Carpeted, soft... And it came to her with a sudden realization. *I've made it. Knothole... I am here at last...* "K-n-o-t-h-o-l-e..." The sound fell from her like the shedding of a skin. She was free of Robotropolis- she had a future now. ~end, All is Fair in Love and War part 2, Broadening Horizons.~ Till next part, Jeanette Merrell. Sonic the hedgehog and freinds are (c) Sega. Kimble and Armada are (c) Jeanette Merrell, 1996. __ Jeanette Merrell merrell@erols.com --