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The glass tube slides down around the Roboticizer, with a young human without a left arm seated inside. A gas mask giving nitrous oxide is strapped over his face. When the tube snaps into place, a heads-up display gives a readout over the glass:
Subject: Davey Crockett
Operation: Replace Left Arm
Est. Robotization: 12%
Ready to Proceed--Press Any Key.

A fox dressed in a military dress and wearing a crown stands before Davey, carrying a hand-held touch screen. "It appears that you haven't woke up from your . . . accident, in over a month, Dave," the fox says. "It appears that you don't want to wake up, do you? Can't say that I blame you, after what happened with that Piasa Bird. You saved your city, only to be shot at for thanks! And over something your ancestors did to boot! I can see why you don't want to return to your world, my friend, but maybe I can entice you with something more." He gave the Roboticizer the go-ahead.

Two robot claws sprouted out from above, one was carrying a robotic left arm, the other clamped down on what's left of the left shoulder.

Blue lightning courses through Davey's body, causing his eyes and head to twitch. It was as is he was having a nightmare. When the claws snapped the robot arm into place, Davey's eyes snapped open.

He found himself seated inside a tube that was now rising into the ceiling. On the outside stood a regally dressed fox. "Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr. Crockett. Don't be alarmed. You just got your arm back, although it's a robotic one. No hard feelings?"

Davey looks to his left. Where a bleeding stump over a grossly removed left arm was is now a gleaming metal tube, hinged at the middle. At the shoulder, a grooved ball connects the arm to the shoulder, which has a grafting of flesh and metal. At the far end was a fully articulate hand. Davey spent some time trying it out before he gave his verdict: "Groovy!"

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The fox introduces himself as King Acorn, monarch of a planet known as Mobius. "You've probably heard of a game called 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' haven't you, Davey?"

"I've played and beaten all the games, sir. I've even seen the comic book and both cartoon shows."

"Good, then all this will be review for you. Allow me to use your arm for a moment, please."

King Acorn pushed a few buttons on Davey's robotic forearm and a holographic projector popped up.

"What you were in when you came to was the original design of the infamous Roboticizer. It was built by one of our inventors named Charles Hedgehog for needs like your own: Limb replacements, birth defect removals, medical repairs, and so on. The Roboticizer was celebrated as our greatest advancement in Mobian science, and it earned Charles his knighthood. But that was before . . ."

"That was before Doctor Ivo Robotnik."

"You're a quick study, young man. I knew Doctor Robotnik before as Julian, the captain of our robotic guard, or Swatbots as we call them, until he staged a military coup over me. He threw me into a dimensional portal to God knows where--I eventually ended up in your world--started to turn Mobius' citizens into robotic slaves with the Roboticizer, make more pollution in his time as dictator than your entire history put together . . . well, you know the rest."

"Including the fact that there is an underground freedom force on your planet led by your daughter, Princess Sally. That team includes Sonic the Hedgehog . . ."

"The fastest mammal on two legs and Sega's multimedia starlet. I know. Now you know how I got into your world in general and your life in particular. Now I'm going to tell you why?"

"I was hoping you would. It's not every day someone gets tapped on the shoulder by a talking fox."

"Humph. I have compiled a package in computer data to my daughter in Knothole. It contains information vital in her mission to overthrow Robotnik and restore freedom to my home. All I need is a messenger to take it to her. I cannot do this myself, because of the nature of the portal I came through causes my body to crystallize when I return. I need someone who is not affected by what I call 'The Void' to go there for me."

"And what you found was me. Well, it's not that I've got any plans for the rest of my life, up to the point that I got my left arm back. I'll do it."

"Good. I was hoping you would."

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"I have uploaded my letter into a computer terminal encased in your robotic forearm," King Acorn told Davey, as they stood before a wireframe pyramid. "It also includes a secret map that will lead you to Knothole, the village where Princess Sally's freedom fighters reside in. Here, take my ring. It will let Sally know that it was I who sent you."

"Yes, Sir," Davey said as he slipped the ring into his human hand.

"However, I must warn you that the void may affect you in the same manner that affects me; I can take you there, but I cannot guarantee that you could return to your own."

"That's okay, Sir. You can probably guess that I'm not too fond of this planet. It has advanced technology and some of the people are somewhat enlightened, and you might consider yourself honored to be able to get over here. But I ran smack dab into the darker side of humanity and paid for it out of my own hide."

"I'll let you know that I would not allow what happened to you in my home planet. No matter what your ancestors did long ago, it should not be that you have to pay for their crimes."

"True. However, there are some cultures on this planet that are so caught up in their bitter past that their own rage has blinded them to the innocence of the children of their ancient tormentors today. For them, am I the face of the world in which they want to live in? A world where every atrocity is met by another? Where justice and equality is decided by who is more hate-filled--who is more morally bankrupt-- than the other? Your Majesty, I do not want to be the face of their future."

"I understand, son. Allow me to show you a brighter path than the one you see before you. Maybe it will be a healing experience to you as well." King Acorn flipped a switch on the pyramid.

The pyramid sprang to life with a deafening hum. A black and white swirl formed in the middle. "Behold, Davey Crockett, The Void. The gateway to the planet Mobius. I have programmed this portal to exit as close to Knothole as possible, but I am not sure about exactly where you'll end up."

"I understand, King Acorn. I'm ready." Davey shook King Acorn's hand for one final time. "Good luck, my son, and God speed."

With that Davey turned toward the hypnotic swirl and leapt into it.