The Other Side A Sonic the Hedgehog Story by Ryan Huber This entire story and all related characters in it are protected under copyright laws. It fine to distribute this story, but only in it's full form, with no alterations, and never for profit. Sonic the Hedgehog, Princess Sally, and all other related characters are copyrights of SEGA, DIC, and Archie Comic Publications. Except for the following... Sandra Nightweaver and Packbell: David Pistone Ryan Nightweaver: Ryan Huber Historian's Note: This is a post-Doomsday story. Six months after my Christmas story. Packbell has retreated to the Dark Mountains...and has a new experiment to work on. It isn't just neural uploading anymore. Part 1 Ryan looked around in the clearing. He heard a snap behind him, and quickly crouched into a defensive position. A black blur moved between two trees, and Ryan saw it. He moved into a more offensive position and waited. He heard another snap behind him. Without even looking behind him to see, he spun around low for a sweep. He barely missed the dark form as it jumped up above his foot. Before the sweep was fully completed, he did a fast reverse somersault. A kick from the dark form struck air where his chest used to be. Ryan kicked forward to get up, and took up a new position. One somewhere in between defensive and offensive. The dark form slowly moved over. "Good job," it said. "You've improved." Ryan smiled a little. "Thanks, Sandra. You've worked me hard. I've learned a lot since I began my...lessons." Sandra stepped forward, hand extended. "Well, my congratulations are extended to you. Nice work." Ryan took her hand in a handshake, but he was quickly flipped through the air. Sandra started to say, "Never drop your guar-" Ryan had twisted in midair, landing on his feet, and it was Sandra who was now flying through the air, for Ryan had used his momentum to toss her instead. Ryan moved forward a few steps. Sandra fell right above him, and he was able to catch her, setting her down carefully. He grinned from ear to ear. "What were you saying? I missed it." Sandra laughed a bit. "Nevermind." Ryan smiled, and put his arm around Sandra. She smiled a little, and they walked off towards Knothole. Packbell, hidden deep in the Dark Mountains, examined and edited his new program. "Ah.. Good. This new experiment should prove very...informative...on the skills of any Freedom Fighter. What a pity that it will probably kill them no matter what...but sacrifices..." The android mock-sighed. "Must be made..." Part 2 Sandra laughed. "Ryan, you have the amazing ability to use the most thinly veiled pick-up lines I have ever heard." Ryan shrugged a little. "And your point is..?" Sandra groaned in mock exasperation and smiled a little. "Well, it's been a few years, but I guess I'll have to take what I get...no matter how bad it is." Ryan grinned. "So you enjoy the attention." Sandra looked right into Ryan's eyes. "Did I say that?" Ryan smiled a bit. "Nope. Just me taking a shot in the twilight again." Packbell laughed in a way that would make a maniac either proud or make them cower in fear. The evil psychosis of that laugh was enough to make a statue's blood run cold. "This program," the android said gleefully, "will create nightmares in the mind of the victim." "Nightmares," he continued, "that will produce..very real physical results." He now addressed a nearby SWATbot from his arsenal. "In other words, you mindless pile of slag, anything that happens to the victim in the dream...also happens to them in real life." Packbell turned back to the screen. "So..a fatal wound in the dream..would truly finish off the actual person. An evil plan truly worthy of me." Packbell laughed again. Had any SWATbots in hearing distance been real people...they would have dropped dead from fright. Later that day, Ryan laid in his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He draped an arm across his face, sighing. "Argh... I'm too shy to do much more than flirt. Sandra may suspect I'm attracted to her, but that's a bit less than myself actually saying it." Ryan turned his head to one side. "I'm cursed with all this. I'm attracted to her, but I can't seem to admit it. Is there any way I can muster enough courage to ask?" Ryan turned his head to the other side. "How long am I going to keep killing myself with thinking this? Well, tomorrow's another day." Packbell had finally finished the design for the nightmare inducing machine. The android thought out loud a little. "Subroutines installed, inducer online... Hmm..." Packbell connected a wire to a panel. "Some fool robot forgot to link the programming to the controls. Normally, I would have shot it, but there's a slightly limited supply of robots for now.." Packbell stepped back to admire his handiwork, and chuckled a little. "Who to experiment on... Decisions, decisions..." His face darkened suddenly. "That pest Ryan. He's been a thorn in my side for over a year now." Packbell thought for a moment. "Hmm.. How can I catch him..? More importantly, what can I use to get to him?" The android scanned his memory files, and he came up with one from a year ago. One where Sandra had been tracking Ryan, and held Packbell at gunpoint for a second. His faced darkened again as he remembered what else had happened after that, but he had found what he had searched for. "Sandra Nightweaver..." he muttered. Part 3 The next day, Packbell had a plan. Even if he couldn't get to Sandra, there were still ways to get at Ryan. He tried Sandra first. Packbell did a sweep of the perimeter of the Great Forest. Maybe one of them were there. Packbell looked at the results. "Hmm.. I suppose...wait! The android looked carefully at the screen. "Enhance grid 24E, 125% magnification... There!" Packbell spotted two forms in the forest. Both foxes. It was Ryan and Sandra. Packbell called into the intercom, "Attention! Have twenty SWATbots move to the coordinates I'm about to send. Capture only the female." He smiled and leaned back. "I want to make sure Ryan has plenty to be mad about. I want him to suffer." "Well Ryan," Sandra said, "should we get going? It's pressing on evening." Ryan didn't really hear her, because he was admiring her. His eyes ran up and down her lean form. She was finely muscled like himself, but not overly so, which he liked. Her black fur covered that form, and the evening sun glinted off it slightly. "She's so beautiful," he thought. "I love the way she moves, the way she talks... Her personality is wonderful..the way she can be so level- headed and cool one second, but warm and caring the next." Ryan continued to admire. He looked at the way her long tail swished slowly behind her. He looked up at her face, and traced her muzzle with his eyes. He unconsciously sighed. Sandra figured out what was happening, but didn't let on. "Ryan? You there?" Ryan jumped a little, and stuttered a bit as he blushed underneath his fur. "Y-y-yeah... Heh." Sandra smiled. "Well?" Ryan looked at her confused. "Well what-" He saw a SWATbot behind her. "-in the name of GOD?!" Sandra swiveled, seeing his gaze directed behind her. The SWATbot practically loomed over her. "Stupid! Stupid! You let your guard down! You could have heard this 'bot had you been paying attention!" she thought. Ryan yelled, "Sandra!" Ryan ran at the SWATbot. It raised its arm... The laser safety clicked... Sandra yelled, "NO!" The SWATbot fired. The beam impacted into Ryan's leg. He sprawled out on the ground, his leg limp. He was either dead or unconscious. A voice cam from the SWATbot...Packbell's. "Oh. Don't worry, Sandra... My dear lady..do you honestly think I'd let a SWATbot kill someone I'd like to do away with myself? That was only a stun beam." Sandra stood there, shocked, for a moment. That was all the SWATbot needed. It reached out and grabbed Sandra, lifting the vixen off of the ground. Sandra struggled, and Packbell's voice sounded again. "If you struggle, you'll only be hurt. Would Ryan want that?" Sandra stopped struggling. "If you ever give me the chance, Packbell...I'll make sure you never speak again." The SWATbot picked up Ryan as well. Packbell said through it, "And I thought I'd have to just capture you as bait. Ryan was kind enough to place himself between you and the danger...how sweet." Sandra growled. The SWATbot moved back to its Hover Unit, carrying its two hostages. Sandra realized she could escape from the cell in the Hover Unit, but decided to stay because of Ryan.. He'd need to be conscious to get out. Part 4 An hour later, Ryan woke. He tried to sit up quickly, Sandra's name echoing in his mind, but found he was strapped down. He struggled in his bonds. A voice said, "So..the experiment awakes. Hello again..RYAN..." Ryan stopped struggling. He coolly said, "Hello, Packbell. I trust you're still bitter after I almost killed you?" Packbell sneered. "Very." Ryan smiled smugly. "Good." Packbell laughed. Ryan strained to look at the android. "What's so funny, you overgrown toaster?" Packbell laughed a bit longer. "Well, I appears I have your girlfriend held captive. I'd behave if you want her in one piece if you survive. _IF_ you survive." Ryan's eyes narrowed. "You..you.. I'll kill you if a single fur on her body is out of place." Packbell, unseen by Ryan, glanced behind himself at a SWATbot. "SWATbot, ungag the prisoner." Sandra glared at Packbell as the gag was untied. She looked at Ryan worriedly for a second, but turned back to Packbell with a cold stare again. Ryan said, "Let me guess... Sandra's back there, too?" Sandra softly said, "Yes, Ryan..I am." Packbell smiled. "How nice. Sandra...Look at that videoscreen. As my experiment proceeds, you'll see everything the your boyfriend sees in his mind's eye. Including his own death. Then again, there's a very off chance that he may survive. We'll just have to see, won't we?" Packbell talked so only Sandra could hear. Ryan was still unaware of what experiment Packbell was referring to. Packbell walked over and stood over Ryan. He leered down at him. Packbell placed a hand on Ryan's stomach, and began to press down. Ryan resisted. Packbell pressed harder. Ryan's stomach was practically on fire. Packbell was barely holding back. The pain burned throughout Ryan's body like fire, but he didn't let Packbell have the satisfaction of a scream. Sandra watched with relief as Ryan didn't scream and Packbell stopped leering and frowned for a second. Packbell then smiled and walked over to a control panel. The android pressed a few buttons. A device lowered over Ryan's face and began to fill with some kind of gas. "Don't worry...yet. Since this experiment involves dreams..I need to get you to sleep," said Packbell. The last thing Ryan heard from Packbell was a laugh. Sandra watched the monitor. Ryan now stood there, surrounded by mist. He spun around a few times, looking at all angles. "Where am I?" he said from the monitor. Packbell smiled. "Oh, yes..we can hear what he says in his dreams as well. I haven't yet turned on the nightmare inducer." Packbell turned towards the screen. "Ah, yes..a real dream is forming now." Ryan's surroundings slowly changed. He stood in a bright field, knee- deep in flowers. Sandra gasped as she saw a shadow descend on Ryan's form. Ryan oofed as the small, dark form hit his back. He staggered and fell to his knees, and looked behind. A young fox kit looked at him, smiling. "I got ya again, dad." Ryan laughed. "That you did, Jared. You're getting good at sneaking." "Jared! Where are you?" someone called from off the screen. Ryan cupped his hands over his muzzle. What came out startled Sandra as she watched. "Jared's over here, Sandra! Looks like he's getting as good as his mom at sneaking around," Ryan called. Sandra looked on as she saw herself appear on screen and walk over towards Ryan. They embraced and kissed. Ryan stepped back for a second and smiled. "We should all get home." Sandra watched as she nodded on the screen. The dream faded out into darkness. Packbell smiled and began clapping. "How wonderful. It looks as though he truly holds feelings for you." Sandra had been blushing under her fur, but now she glared at Packbell coldly. Packbell smiled wider. "A pity he won't live through this so he can actually tell you." Sandra growled at Packbell. "I think you're underestimating him." Packbell smirked. "I think I'm not. It was sheer luck the last time he escaped me." Sandra smiled slowly. "That was almost a year ago. Things have changed." Packbell chuckled. "We shall see." The android walked back over to the controls. "Now to start the nightmare inducer. He won't live too long through this." Part 5 Ryan walked through a barren landscape. Mist enclosed him, and he could barely see more than three feet in any direction. He felt the thing's presence, but couldn't place it. He knew it could see him, but he couldn't see it. Fear was beginning to grip his chest and lungs, but he didn't give in. He slowly turned in circles, waiting for the thing to make the first move. Part of the mist in front of his face cleared and he saw it. It was the same horror he had become a year ago. Purple hide, lumbering evil. Only this time it talked to him. "I am chaos...anger...hate... I am you." Ryan yelled at it defiantly. "No! You are not me! You cannot feel pain, sorrow, or love! I can!" "Chaos, anger, and hate in one became you once. Embrace the evil and never be hurt again." "Never! I beat you once and I will again!" "That was when our minds conflicted. Now we are separate. Chaos will triumph over order!" The horror rushed at Ryan. Ryan leaped into the air and flipped behind it, planting a kick on the back of its knee, his moves honed by the dream/nightmare state. Ryan began to leap away as the horror crashed to the ground, but it spun with unusual speed, claws raking the back of Ryan's leg. It was only a flesh wound, but a little blood dripped down his fur. A wound appeared on Ryan's leg as he lay on the table. Sandra gasped a bit. Packbell smiled evilly. "I told you he wouldn't survive. Each wound he receives in the nightmares becomes real through my technology. Now I know it truly works." Sandra glared again for a second, and returned to watching the screen. Ryan hadn't suffered any more wounds, but with each hit he planted, the horror seemed to grow larger. Ryan kicked the horror's torso again. It got an inch taller. The horror made a raspy laughing noise, and said, "You can't beat chaos. I feed on it." Ryan kicked a few more times. The horror grew. Ryan stopped and stepped back. "So..you feed on chaos? Big mistake letting that on." The horror laughed. "Why? I'll kill you now, you know." "And I won't fight." The horror blinked at the response, and ran at Ryan, claws held high. Ryan stood there, not moving. As Sandra watched, the horror reached Ryan and the claws descended. She tried to break free and run forward, but a SWATbot held her in place. "NO!" she cried out, and looked away from the screen. Just as the horror's claws touched Ryan, it disappeared. Ryan looked around a bit, then looked at the sky. "As chaos feeds on chaos, peace is the way. Fighting was not the answer." Packbell hit the controls. "NO! How could he survive that?!" Sandra smiled. "Good," she thought, "he's angry and surprised Ryan could surprise. Makes it easier for me to get out of here with Ryan alive." Packbell twisted a dial. "Let's see how well he does with a worse nightmare." Sandra frowned a bit and turned to the screen again. Part 6 Ryan stood in a brightly lit field. The sun caressed his shoulders. He looked around. Yes, there was his house. He headed over to see his wife and son. He saw Sandra standing in the door, smiling at him, he began to run over. He felt like something was wrong and he needed to make it there faster. Ryan tried to run faster, but he was still only walking. "Please, no... I have to get there!" he said aloud. Ryan saw a metallic shape appear on the far horizon. A bomb. "NO!" he cried. He began to yell to Sandra. "Get Jared! Get out of the house! PLEASE! RUN!" Sandra didn't move. The bomb drew nearer...it was halfway there. Ryan was only a hundred yards from the house. Sandra still hadn't moved. The bomb steadily descended. Jared appeared in the doorway besides Sandra. Ryan called out again. "NO! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MOVE! RUN!" The bomb hit the house, and Ryan was thrown back from the explosion. He heard Jared's voice from the burning area. "DADDY!" Ryan tried to run over, but he couldn't even move. He began to cry, doubling over. He cried out to no one, "WHY?! Why was my family taken away?!" He resumed crying and he couldn't stop. Another bomb came at him. Sandra watched it descend. "Ryan!" she yelled, "It's a dream! I'm alive! Fight it! Move!" Packbell glanced at Sandra. "Gag her." The SWATbot tied a strip of cloth around Sandra's muzzle. Ryan heard the voice somehow. "SANDRA!" Ryan leaped up and ran as fast as he could. The bomb detonated, but without Ryan under it. He lived. The nightmare faded on the screen. Sandra smiled under the gag. Packbell glared at her. "You saved him for now...but what will he do when his greatest fear is turned into a nightmare?" Packbell slowly smiled, and flipped a few switches and turned another dial. The screen clouded, then cleared. Part 7 Ryan surveyed his surroundings. Giant spider webs hung all over. "Oh great," he said, "spiders... I hate spiders." Ryan heard a whirring, chittering sound behind him, and tensed. He slowly turned... Sandra let out a gasp that was muffled by the gag. Ryan's form was dwarfed by a fifteen foot-tall spider. Packbell smiled. "It's obviously poisonous," said Packbell. "See the venom dripping? One scratch and Ryan's dead...I love it." Sandra growled quietly... The spider lunged its fangs down at the form of Ryan. Ryan was shocked for a second, but moved just in time. The sharp fangs passed an inch from his leg. Ryan backflipped quickly, avoiding another lunge. He was running, too scared to act...his fear overcoming him. He faltered for a second... Packbell grinned evilly. "Yes... A second is all the spider needs..." Ryan saw the lunge coming and dived out of the way just in time. The spider's head and fangs slammed into the ground. Eight eyes watched him move and run. Ryan began to think clearly... Sandra watched the screen. "Please," she thought. "Run...live..." "Ryan...I love you," she thought. Part 8 Ryan had dodged three more lunges. He knew what would happen in he was even scratched. He saw a jagged tree stump only a few yards away...if only he could make it. He made a desperate run for the stump. The spider followed for a few steps, then lunged. Ryan passed the stump, and jumped to the side quickly. The spider fell heavily on the stump and the air was filled with a wet, piercing/gushing noise. Green blood ran over the stump and ground. The spider was dead, impaled on the trunk. Ryan gazed triumphantly around. Packbell screamed in rage. "NO NO NO!" Packbell flipped one last switch. "let's see if he can make the final test requirements.." The screen suddenly shifted to Ryan facing Sandra. Sandra gasped...she knew what this dream was. Sandra kicked Ryan hard in the stomach. Ryan doubled over and gasped, "Sandra..why..?" Ryan's stomach convulsed on the table. Sandra planted a series of punches on the back of his neck, then kicked him in his lower back. Ryan's back and neck arched as much as they could under the straps. Sandra wiggled out of the gag. "RYAN! FIGHT BACK! IT ISN'T ME!" Packbell glared again. "GAG HER!!!" Sandra yelled, "RYAN! FIGHT! FIGH-" The SWATbot had clamped her mouth shut with it's mechanical hand. Ryan looked up. "You aren't really Sandra.." Sandra smiled under the SWATbot's clenched hand. Ryan kicked back, hitting the dream-Sandra in the ankle. She fell with a thud. Ryan regained his feet. Packbell flipped a hidden switch. A cliff appeared behind Ryan suddenly. It was a long fall down. Ryan sensed the cliff. "Oh, hell.." The dream-Sandra leaped up and rushed at Ryan. Ryan sidestep and swept at her feet. She jumped up, and Ryan stood and swung a fist at her back. It connected and sent the dream-Sandra over the edge of the cliff. As she fell, she dissolved into grey smoke. The nightmare-inducer began to beep and emit smoke. The was an electrical fire smell coming from inside it. The metal rings the had bound Ryan snapped open, the sleeping gas dispersed. He woke up. Packbell frantically tried to stop the overload. Ryan took the opportunity in the confusion to grab a laser blaster from a nearby table. He aimed and blew off the head of the SWATbot the held Sandra. The SWATbot released its captive and she ran over towards Ryan, embracing him. Ryan staggered back as Sandra rushed over to him. He said quietly, "Quick...let's get out of here while Packbell doesn't notice us. Ryan and Sandra ran towards the launching pads for the Hover Units. Part 9 Ryan and Sandra both leaped into an unoccupied unit and turned it on quickly. Sandra turned to Ryan and said, "We're about an hour from the Great Forest. The Dark Mountains, I think. Let's get out of here." Ryan nodded and frantically tapped the controls. The Hover Unit rose and sped out of the bay doors towards the Great Forest. Ryan glanced at Sandra, opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it and looked back ahead of him. Sandra saw Ryan out of the corner of her eye and smiled. "Ryan?" Ryan didn't look over...he was too nervous. "Y-yeah?" Sandra smiled and reached over, putting her hand over Ryan's. Ryan instinctively tensed and was about to pull his hand away, put relaxed and let it stay there. "What was that thing I was hooked up to?" "A dream inducer," replied Sandra. "It made you dream nightmares and gave any wounds in them real meaning to your physical body." Ryan nodded and gulped. "I can only recall a little... What did I dream?" Sandra squeezed his hand a little. "Enough." Ryan finally looked over, and saw Sandra smiling. Ryan sighed and set the Hover Unit on autopilot. He turned back to Sandra. "Sandra... There's something I've wanted to tell you..for a long time." Sandra smiled and nodded. Ryan drew in a deep breath. "Sandra..I love you." Sandra blushed under her fur. "Ryan.." Ryan lowered his gaze. "Yes?" Sandra leaned over towards him. "I love you, too." Ryan looked up, surprised. "R-Really?" Sandra nodded. Ryan put his other hand on top of Sandra's and rubbed it a little. Sandra smiled and said, "Would you like to stay at my place for a time? I'd enjoy the company." Ryan smiled now, too. "Sure. Why not?" Ryan leaned over towards Sandra. Sandra leaned over towards Ryan. They kissed each other as the Hover Unit changed its course from the Great Forest to the Great Unknown. -The End-