From thuber@vs5.im.med.umich.eduMon Dec 4 09:13:09 1995 Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 13:05:07 -0500 From: Ryan Huber To: rotor@primenet.com Subject: ARGH! I found another mistake. Here's the redone Newcomer...error free. The Newcomer 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. This is my first Sonic story, and I've thought of nothing but it all along. I am adding a new character to the Sonic timeline, who does, in fact, have my name, and personality. This story shouldn't contradict the show, as I have every single one on tape. Sonic the Hedgehog, Princess Sally, and all other related characters are copyrights of SEGA, DIC, and Archie Comic Publications. Except for the following... Bookshire, Sandra Nightweaver, and Packbell: David Pistone Sir Kain (Eric): Eric Goodwin Ryan: Ryan Huber Historian's Note: This story takes place about 2 months before the failed Doomsday project that killed Robotnik, setting it around Spring...which is what I'm led to understand, and the first part alternates between Mobius and Earth (not too much, though). Part 1 A young man walked away from the sunset, grinning and sweating slightly, holding his baseball bat and glove. His brown hair wasn't long, but not very short, either, and his brown-green eyes glinted happily. He wore only a shirt and some jean shorts, and was finely muscled from running and exercising, and he began talking to himself without realizing it... "Ha! I seriously can't believe that the team won! It may not be a real game, but it sure was fun..." On Mobius, Bookshire and Rotor were working on a new machine to deroboticize the unfortunate citizens of Mobotropolis who were caught during and after the coup. Bookshire looked up at Rotor and said, "Hmm, the circuits here are a little loose...a little far down, but I think I can get to them." "Go ahead," Rotor replied without even looking up. Bookshire reached down into the machine a bit, and brushed a tiny conductor against a wire. Ryan continued walking along. He looked ahead to see a wide field, and realized he had walked to his old house. "Oh, no!" he shouted. "I'm going to catch it good if I don't get home soon... I can't believe I walked here!" He turned around, failing to notice the strange-looking comet hurtling out of the sky... "Shoot!" Bookshire said. "I accidentally hit a wire...is the deroboticizer OK?" Rotor finally looked up. "Hmm..." Rotor walked over to Bookshire and carefully inspected the machine. "Seems OK, Bookshire. Wouldn't worry about it." "Whew. Was worried for a second, Rotor... Most of these parts are hard to come by." The comet shot closer to Ryan... Just as Rotor went back to work, the machine started to hum. "What th-!" stuttered Rotor. "Bookshire! Get back! Something's wrong with the deroboticizer!" Ryan heard a low hum behind him. He turned just in time to see the strange green comet impact into him. On Mobius, just as Ryan was hit with the comet, the machine gave out a whine, and an amazingly bright white flash filled Rotor's workshop. Nothing was heard... Everything was changed... Part 2 Rotor and Bookshire looked at the body sprawled in front of them. The deroboticizer gave a final sputter and died. Nothing at all happened for a full minute. Not a sound from either of the Mobians. Finally, Rotor spoke up. "A...a human?" Bookshire snapped out of the trance he was in at the unexpected appearance of the new visitor. "I thought the few other humans were captured by Robotnik during the coup and roboticized immediately..." "If so, what's he doing here?" The human began to stir. Rotor noted he spoke Mobian. "Ooooohhhnnnnn... My aching head.... What was that thi-... Where am I?" The young human slowly stood up, and Bookshire and Rotor noted, that, as with most humans, this one was no exception... Both of them only came up to a bit above his waist. The human looked around, taking in his new surroundings. Then his eyes fell on the raccoon and walrus on the other side of the room. He stumbled back surprised. "W-w-who are you?" he managed to stutter. Bookshire stepped forward. "I'm Bookshire, and this is Rotor. Who might you be?" The human paused a second to get his bearings, and said, "My name is Ryan." Rotor's curiosity sparked and he asked, "How did you get here, Ryan?" Ryan glanced around somewhat nervously and replied, "Well, the last thing I remember...was...was....a comet of some sort...headed right at me. I must've blacked out, because next thing I know I-... Wait a sec! Both of you speak...English?" Bookshire smiled slightly. "We speak Mobian, actually. What about you?" "I guess I must...but..." At that second, Sonic slammed open the door. "Guys! Sal and I saw the flash. What happened?" Ryan looked at the hedgehog this time. He was even more bewildered than ever. Sonic glanced around. Noticing the human, he spoke. "Who on Mobius is this?" Ryan shook his head to clear it. "I'm Ryan. You say...this place is called Mobius?" "Place? This whole planet is Mobius!" replied Sonic. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto..." "Say what?" "Ah...just a saying where I came from...'cause I know I'm not there anymore." Again, the growing group was joined. This time by Sally, who was right behind Sonic. Sally stopped at the door the second she saw a human standing there in front of her. She couldn't believe her eyes. Weren't the only other non-roboticized humans around Robotnik and Snively? The idea quickly went through her head that this could be a trick...another android, just like Packbell. Could it be? She simply said what came to mind. "Sonic...who is this?" Instead of Sonic, the human spoke up. "I'm Ryan. I've already met Bookshire, Rotor, Sonic...but you are..?" "Sally. Er...nice to meet you." Sally began to think through what to do. "What to do..." she thought to herself. "What if it is a trick..and this person is an android...but what if he isn't... ARGH! It's too soon to assume he's tricking anybody...he hasn't done anything yet, and I've only just seen and met him." Sally stepped towards Ryan, and said, "As I said. I'm Sally. All of us here are Freedom Fighters. Have you ever heard of Robotnik?" Ryan paused to think, and answered. "No." Sally said, "Robotnik is a tyrant who, years ago, enslaved Mobius during his revolt against my father, the King of Mobotropolis, now called Robotropolis..." Ryan's eyes widened. "If your father was king...that'd make you..." "Yes, a princess...but that title doesn't do much good as long as Robotnik is in control... We, along with several other groups of Freedom Fighters, have been trying to seize back control of Mobius." Sally began think about this newcomer again. "Am I telling him too much? No..what could he do with information that everyone already knows?" Sally came out of her train of thought when the human spoke again. "Well, I don't like tyrants, and if Robotropolis is that big cloud of pollution I can just see on the horizon..." He pointed out a nearby window. "Then I...would like to join your band of Freedom Fighters." Sally opened her mouth, ready to outright refuse his request, but she looked into his eyes, and saw that same look of determination that she always saw in Sonic's eyes before an important mission. "I...I'll think about giving you a chance. Until then, maybe these three can help you get acquainted with the others...Tails, Sir Kain, Bunnie..." Ryan nodded...he saw her unease, and knew a nod was sufficient. Sonic was the first to break the silence. "Well, Ryan...let's show you around Knothole. I'm sure you'll like it." Ryan glanced around again, and replied. "I hope so, Sonic...I really hope so. I just realized I may never see my family again..." The mention of "family" reached the ear of Princess Sally, who had just gone outside, and brought a tear to her eye. Part 3 INCOMING TRANSMISSION: CMDR. PACKBELL ROBOTNIK, I AM UNHAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE TIME/SPACE TELEPORTER DID NOT, AS YOU HAD PLANNED, ESSENTIALLY PLUCK A YOUNGER SONIC OUT OF THE PAST, EASILY GETTING RID OF HIM. INSTEAD, A STRANGE GREEN COMET, THAT HAS BEEN ANALYZED AS WORTHLESS, APPEARED INSTEAD. I AM SORRY TO REPORT THAT THE PROJECT WAS A FAILURE. -END TRANSMISSION- That night, after Ryan had met and been introduced to some of the Freedom Fighters he hadn't met yet, he couldn't sleep. Even though Sonic, with his speed, had managed to quickly build a small hut for him, Ryan couldn't relax. After he realized he wasn't going to get much sleep his first night in this strange new world, he wandered over to a spot Sonic had shown him, which he liked the most. The power ring pool, he believed it was called. Ryan sat down near the tranquil pool on a nearby log, leaning back against another tree. He didn't know how long he was there, a few hours maybe, but after a while, he heard a twig snap behind him. Ryan looked back to see a black feline standing about ten feet behind him, and he remembered the face. The feline's name was Sir Kain. Kain spoke first. "Hello. May I join you there?" Ryan looked down towards his feet. "Go ahead. You don't need to ask. After all...it is your planet." Kain smiled slightly, and walked slowly over near Ryan and sat on a stump, not far away from the log. "Actually...I was from Earth as well. Anything you'd like to get off your mind?" Ryan finally looked up, surprised, then sat back again. "Hmm...I'll need to talk to you about that later... Yeah... I can't rest easily. I also know I won't for a long time...I realized I'll probably never get back to my world. Still...this place is so much like Earth, only where I came from, creatures like you didn't exist. Yes, there were cats, but they didn't stand up or talk, either." Kain listened carefully, not missing a detail, and responded. "Hmm...here, humans became sentient last... When I first got here...I had turned into a cat...I know what you mean. Maybe...maybe Earth...is an alternate reality of Mobius." Ryan tensed suddenly and looked up. "By God! I'll just bet you're right. That'd explain why I understand everyone else and vice- versa! But...but it still doesn't get me back home..." Ryan sat back again, depressed. Kain thought of something to say, but nothing came to mind, so he just sat. "Call me Eric..." Packbell walked across the room, pacing angrily. "How could it fail?! I checked the program for bugs, and there were no mistakes. GOD!" Packbell pulled out his laser rifle, and without turning around, shot a nearby SWATbot right through the torso. Packbell moved over to the intercom and spoke into it. "Send me another SWATbot, this one isn't functioning properly right now." The intercom crackled briefly, and a robotic monotone issued forth from it. "Understood, Commander Packbell." Packbell resumed his pacing. "This is impossible! How could this happ- Hmm...I wonder..." The android stepped over to the console again and this time, looked at some sets of figures. 1000/: access program time/space, run RUNNING 1232/: retrieving data, frame 1000 1400/: error, major power source interfering COMMENCING TRANSPORT 1324/: successful transport, hominid life form retrieved Packbell's eyes opened wide. "Hominid?! I got a worthless chunk of comet! That means...a life form was deposited in a random part of Mobius! Obviously not Sonic...but what?" Sandra Nightweaver, unknown to Packbell, listened to every word. The fox's black fur blended rather well with the darkness of the air duct. She looked down and smiled. If a newcomer was present on Mobius, that meant information was capable of being discovered...and sold. Sandra stealthily moved back down the duct, careful not to make noise. Before, she would have taunted Packbell slightly, in her own way, but after she refused to tell him the location of Knothole, she was, in his eyes, classified as a Freedom Fighter. "Oh, well..." she thought. "Being alone is worse than being hunted." After the long crawl through the ducts of Robotropolis, she made up her mind. She would find the newcomer, and find out about it. Part 4 Ryan and Kain...whom he had found used to have the name Eric on Earth, had finally returned to their huts and gotten a bit of sleep. Even though only about three hours of sleep was right up there with wanting to twist his ankle for the heck of it, he woke up surprisingly refreshed. As he opened his eyes, he was aware of another person in the room with him. He sat up and stared into the shadows. He saw a dark shape, and was suddenly frightened. Who could have gotten in so easily...then he knew. "Ha, ha...very funny Sonic...putting a dummy in the shadows..." "Actually, I consider my self rather clever..." Ryan jumped into the air, hoped to come down back on the bed, and missed. After recovering, he quickly scrambled to his feet, and looked toward the sound of the voice. A fox stepped out of the shadows. Ryan thought to himself, "No wonder the shape was so dark...her fur is black." Sandra Nightweaver stepped over to Ryan until only about five feet separated them. "Well, well..." Sandra said. "So you're the hominid that Packbell's raving about...and human, too." Ryan regained his wits and composure, and replied to the stranger. "Who are you...and who's Packbell?" The stranger permitted herself a light slap on the cheek. "How rude of me not to introduce myself." She bowed deeply, Ryan knew it was touched with sarcasm, but not much. "I am Sandra Nightweaver, finder of information." Ryan allowed himself a small smile, and said, "Ah...a euphemism for a spy...isn't it?" "Clever one, aren't you. I suppose you could say that." "Thank you. Don't forget, I also asked about this...Packbell character." "Ah, yes...Robotnik's only android. Capable of basic emotions...no mercy, however." "Sounds like a rather pleasant fellow...not." "Couldn't have said it better myself." Ryan judged Sandra to be quite clever, and not one to trifle with. Sandra judged Ryan in the same way. The mutual respect showed. Both noticeably relaxed, and were less wary of each other. "To whom are you loyal, anyway?" Ryan thought aloud. "No one but myself, but thanks for asking.." Ryan smiled again, thinking. "She's good...gotta remember to never get her mad at me..." The wooden porch outside the hut creaked as someone stepped on it, and up to my door. Sandra turned around quickly. "So sorry. Must go." Ryan turned to see who was coming in. Standing at the door was Rotor. Rotor peered around. "I thought I heard you talking to someone in here." Ryan looked around. There was no trace of Sandra. "I was, actually." "Who?" "I had an interesting conversation with someone called Sandra-" "Nightweaver?" Rotor finished. "Yes. Anything I should know about her?" "Sally should hear about this one... Sounded like you two got along... Last time we talked to her, it was for a few minutes, and she was still deciding whether to turn us in to Robotnik or not. Obviously she didn't." "She seemed trustworthy to me." Rotor wondered for a moment. "To you, maybe. She must be taking a liking to you... Still, be careful...and Sally should hear of this." Ryan nodded. "I'll tell her right now." Ryan headed out the door...looked left, then right, then right again. He turned back to Rotor, blushed and smiled weakly. "Which place is Sally's?" Some directions and a few minutes later, Ryan was telling Sally all that had happened between him and Sandra. "Well, Sally...after I turned and saw it was Rotor...I looked back and she was gone. No trace of her." Sally smiled and nodded. "Yes, she tends to do that. Thanks for telling me." Sally was beginning to trust Ryan more and more. Despite her dark premonitions about the young human, she was beginning to come around, and see him as a total and complete equal. She was almost ready to ask him the questions needed for him to become an official Freedom Fighter, then send him on his first mission. Ryan was beginning to like Mobius more and more, but still missed his old home. He couldn't wait to be initiated as a Freedom Fighter. He knew Sally, Sonic, Bookshire, Rotor, Sir Kain, and some others truly trusted him, but he also saw a few talking about him behind his back. He realized how they must feel about him being new and human, and had seen what they had been put through by a human, and understood. He just hoped it didn't escalate. Part 5 A few Freedom Fighters stood in a group, listening to rumors and passing on mostly fanciful information about the new addition to the group. One looked around quickly. "I heard he really is another android, and he's hypnotized Sonic..." More began to join in. "Yeah, sure. I'll admit, he probably is an android, but hypnotizing...nah. Could be that Robotnik's using him without his knowledge to find Knothole." "If so," came a voice from behind the group. "We all would have been caught before this and been roboticized right now." The Freedom Fighters spun around, only to see Bookshire standing right there. Bookshire shook his head. "How can you just make this all up? What proof do you have?" A few glanced around, and one spoke up. "My friend over here," he said, pointing to another, "says he saw the human talk to a SWATbot in the woods last night..." Bookshire looked skeptical. "Did you, really?" He asked. "Er...um.... No..." "There you go...nothing but cruel rumors...would you like someone making up things about you, with no actual knowledge of the subject." "But...the human-" "He has a name." "Never mind..." The group wandered away in different directions, and Bookshire shook his head again. He knew that this was going to take a lot of getting used to...for him as well as everyone else. Ryan looked from the shadows at Bookshire and smiled. When he saw Bookshire approach the group, he had moved back into the shadows. He was very glad to know that someone was helping him out. Part 6 Sandra Nightweaver walked back through the forest. Finding Ryan had been quick, but definitely not easy. She had decided to start her search in Knothole, and was simply quite lucky that her search had also ended. She had instantly noticed something different, and it had taken her awhile to determine which hut was new, then waiting until everyone else had gone inside. She rather liked the human. He was clever and quick, much like herself, and she then realized it. She stopped in her tracks and spoke aloud. "I...I think of him as an equal...and friend. But...I haven't had a...friend...in a long time." She looked shocked for a moment, then smiled a bit and continued on. Packbell continued his area scan. "There must be a power signature somewhere! Unless...unless since it wasn't the main transport to here...the power was lower, and faded faster. ARGH!" The android decided not to relieve his stress on a SWATbot, but hold it in. One day he'd run out of SWATbots at his disposal. "Hmm.." he thought. "This could work out to be much harder than I ever expected. However, one day, the hominid will stumble across Robotropolis, and I'll find out more." Packbell smiled and sat down again, patiently going over reports. Sally looked up, and smiled. She had finally decided. Ryan would be a Freedom Fighter. She leaned out the window and called for Sonic. A minute passed, and Sonic was there. Sally smirked. "You must be getting slow...took you almost a full minute to get here." "Sorry, Sal. Stopped to make a quick chili dog. What's up?" "Sonic, I've decided...I'll give Ryan the chance." "Alright, Sal! I seriously think he'll be a good group member. Don't forget I call 'em as well as you." "How so?" "I supported Tolouse, didn't I?" "I'll give you that one, Sonic. Now, please get Ryan." "No prob." Ryan was lying back on his bed, relaxing, and looking out the window, enjoying the fresh air and the beam of sunlight that was coming in. He felt a stronger breeze, and had already figured out who it was before the door opened. "Heya, Sonic." "Hey, bud. Sal wants to talk to you." "Seriously?! Wow! I have a chance, don't I?!" "Can't say for sure, but hurry up." Before Sonic could even finish his last sentence, Ryan was up and out the door, practically running as fast as Sonic. Sonic grinned and turned around to go find something else to do. Ryan ran quickly up to Sally's door, opened it, and entered, catching his breath. The heavy weight of excitement grew on his chest as he moved over to Sally, waiting for her to say something. Sally looked up and smiled. "Sit, please." Ryan did. Sally could see the mix of determination and excitement in his eyes, and knew he was going to be very helpful during this awful war. She sat also, and began to ask Ryan about all she wanted to know. [[Note: The questions and answers are being kept totally confidential, as Sally doesn't want the interview to be known by all, because she wants to use these questions over to ask others in the future. See "Run with the Fox", by Kris Kelley, for more details.]] "Well, Ryan...that was the last question. I just want you to promise me two things." "What's that, Sally?" "Don't be disappointed..." Ryan looked down at his feet with a little bit of a frown. "And, Ryan?" "Yes?" Ryan looked up. "Don't tell anyone these questions...I don't want you giving hints on how to become a Freedom Fighter." Ryan's face lit up, and her jumped to his feet with a shout. "ALRIGHT! I made it!" Sally smiled. "Good job, Ryan. Your first mission is already coming up. It is a bit dangerous for a new member, but I think you can handle it. I'm sending you with Sir Kain." "Good. I trust Eric, and I think he trusts me as well." "So..he told you the name he had before... Anyway, exactly why I chose him to go." "When do we leave?" "Tomorrow. Early morning." "What's the mission going to be, anyway?" "Information retrieval. Sonic's uncle, Charles, was roboticized, but he has control again. He's our link to Robotnik's information." "I see. Fairly easy, but be on guard for the unexpected, eh?" "Exactly. Good luck, Ryan. I believe in you." "Thanks," Ryan said, smiling. Part 7 The next morning, Ryan came awake early, very excited. Geared up, he stretched, and thought about Earth. He hadn't for a few days, and memories flooded back. "No!" he thought harshly. "This is my life now. I was brought here, and there's no changing that...besides, I like it here!" The memories retreated to the back of Ryan's mind...for now. He looked around, half expecting a familiar dark shape to be standing in the shadows, and, to his surprise, found he was disappointed when there wasn't. Eric was up a little after Ryan, and was a little excited, and a little scared. Every time he went to Robotropolis, there was a chance of meeting up with Robotnik. After the "cut a deal" incident, he couldn't help but feel the fear. It was held back, but still there. The feline stretched, stood, and felt refreshed and ready for the mission. The two friends met near the center of the tiny village, and, after a brief conversation with Sally involving the location of the dropoff, they set out. Ryan's mind wandered back to the conversation, reliving snatches of it. "-and the location is by building 019, in sector CC. You should-" "-that, too...but Sal, isn't a more direct approach better than-" "-not a good idea, the weaving keeps your destination more secretive. Don't forget to-" Ryan shook his head to clear it, and looked ahead to Robotropolis. The city was only a dot, albeit a large one, but there was still some major distance to cover. He looked over at Eric, who seemed to be thinking back also. Eric noticed Ryan's gaze. "Anything you need to talk about?" "Hmm...not really. I just need a way to pass the time besides staring at that big metal strip of horizon." Eric thought for a second. "Well, since Dulcy, unfortunately, is sick, she couldn't take us to Robotropolis via flying..." Eric grinned. "Blame it on her." Ryan smiled and kept up the pace. "Yeah, right. Me tell a dragon it's her fault I had to walk...I'd be needing asbestos pants for a month!" "How true. Seriously, though...she's a good person, and would never do anything like that." "I believe you," Ryan said. The silence continued for a good while longer, and the two just took comfort in each other's presence. A few miles from Robotropolis, Eric spoke again. "From now on, almost no talking, and listen carefully. SWATbots and Hover Units could be anywhere." Ryan nodded, that was all that was needed. Part 8 Packbell was reading maintenance reports. Clean this...report to sector such and such. Boring, even to an artificial life form. He was still angry with the teleporter results, and the elusive life form that was transported by mistake. What was it? Suddenly, a new report flashed across the screen. Two non-robotic life forms detected in sector CC! Packbell sprung up, and entered commands for SWATbots to leave the area. He wanted to do this by himself. Eric glanced around Robotropolis nervously. He saw that it was too quiet. No SWATbots, Hover Units...nothing! Ryan was oblivious...he had never been here before. The feline tapped Ryan on the shoulder. "It's too quiet...I think something's up." A voice came from behind. "You're right you know..." Ryan and Eric spun around, and came face-to-face with Cmdr. Packbell. Ryan glared at him and said, "Who are you?" "I'm Commander Packbell, worm...and you're in trouble." Ryan raised an eyebrow. "So...you're the Packbell Sandra spoke of." Packbell blinked. "Hah! That two-bit spy will get it one day. By me! She refused to tell me of Knothole, so she's a traitor as well." Ryan crossed his arms. "How do you know you aren't the traitor?" Faster than Ryan could react...blink, for that matter, Packbell's arm shot out and clamped his throat. "Hmm..." he said, studying Ryan more closely. Suddenly, his eyes got wide. "Aha! You must be the transported life form! I certainly don't remember missing any humans...the few of them that there were...at the coup." Eric had just stood there, petrified that they had been found so fast, but his voice quickly came back. "What does Ryan have to do with you?" Packbell glanced at the feline. Accessing his memory files, he matched up Eric. "Ah, yes...you...the one Robotnik did a bit of bartering with. Anyway, it was nice the last time, you know...when you almost betrayed the Freedom Fighters...it was rather fun." Eric wasn't frightened any longer. He snarled. "You...you..." He advanced on Packbell. Packbell smirked and held up Ryan like a rag doll. "Let me point this out to you. You can't hurt me, and I can kill your friend here easily." Eric backed down, keeping his rage in check. Packbell then said, "Well, might as well go roboticize you both now... By the way, kitty...don't try to escape. If you do, your friend here dies instantly." Eric followed...what choice did he have? Part 9 As Eric and Ryan sat in the holding cell, neither blamed the other, but themselves. Eric looked up, and looked down again. Ryan noticed. "What's on your mind, Eric?" "It was my fault we got caught..." "No way! It was mine...I shouldn't have ticked off Mr. Congeniality over there," he said, pointing at Packbell. "I noticed it was too quiet. I should have said something. Anyway, even if he hadn't gotten a bit angry...do you think he'd just let us go?" "I...don't know. All I do know is that we're in it deep..." Packbell looked over at his two prisoners. He was rather happy with the catch, and smiled smugly to show it. Then one of the most evil, hideous, and wretched plans ever hatched inside his mind... He would let Ryan go! It was so simple. No one ever really got out without help, and a rookie Freedom Fighter at that! Who would believe he wasn't some kind of spy? It was too perfect, and torturous. No friends for the human, and the Freedom Fighters off guard from the loss of the feline. Easy enough. A few minutes later, after Ryan had been "set free", Eric finally figured out what was up. Any doubts of Ryan faded from his mind as he saw the android's plan unfold in his mind. He was sickened. Ryan ran blindly towards Knothole, tearing across the plains. He may have killed himself from over exhaustion if he hadn't tripped. The fall let him regain his senses, and he ran more sanely. After what seemed like forever, he made it to the Great Forest... Another eternity later, he was at Knothole, torn up and dirty. Sonic, Sally, and Bookshire were the first to see him stagger around, then fall into a dead faint. When Ryan came to, Sonic and Sally were looking down at him, looking concerned, and Bookshire had obviously gone off to get help. Then Ryan noticed another face. One of the Freedoms Fighters, an opossum, who seemed to have started the rumors looked down at him coldly, and spoke bluntly. "Where's Sir Kain...HUH?! Where is he?! You turned him in, got sent back, and dirtied yourself up just to make it look legit!" Sally looked up, appalled. "How can you just say that?! You have no proof!" "No disrespect, Princess..." the opossum said, "but he's a human...and who knows where he really came from?" "What basis does that hold? You're taking a stab in the dark, and you are way off." "How do you know?" Ryan sat up. "He's right...how do you know?" Sally looked at Ryan, shocked. Ryan continued. "After all...I'm human, and you don't know where I really came from...but...mostly...it's because I'm human, isn't it?" Ryan stood, and moved towards the source of his persecution. "Human, to you...means Robotnik, doesn't it?! Well let me tell you...maybe...just maybe...we aren't all evil!" Ryan spun around, and stalked off towards Robotropolis. Sally glared at the opossum who had started this, then to Ryan. "Where are you going?" Ryan turned back just long enough to say, "I'm going back for Eric," before he resumed his pace. The opossum snorted. "Humans...too stupid to give up." Sally stepped over to the Freedom Fighter. All she said was, "Jerk," right before she slapped him. Sally left the opossum to wallow in his embarrassment, and went over to Sonic. "Shadow Ryan. He may need your help later... If he accepts it or not." Part 10 Ryan, after half running and half walking to Robotropolis, made it in. When he heard a sound, he hid, when he had a chance, he ran from building to building. Finally, he got to where he wanted to go...the exact place he and Eric were kept...Packbell's own office. Hatred of the android rushed through him...for attacking...for trapping...and most of all, for putting him into the middle of this situation. If Ryan hadn't been thinking of how he wanted to dismantle the android, he would have noticed a dark shape at each corner, shadowing him. Sonic knew the look on Ryan's face. He had seen on Todd's face, the only and last time he went after Packbell. He hoped he didn't need to help Ryan, just because he hoped that Ryan could pull off the rescue on his own, without help, and prove beyond a doubt he was no traitor. Sandra Nightweaver looked around the corner, and wondered what Ryan was doing. Then she realized. He was going after Packbell himself! She almost ran over, already deciding in her mind she would help this once. Then she saw the other person in the shadows...Sonic. She knew her help might not be needed...but the might gnawed at her mind. Sandra gave a mental shrug, opened a nearby air duct, and went inside. She headed towards Packbell's office. Ryan turned through the corridors physically as well as mentally, until he got to a familiar door. "And what could be behind door number one?" he thought, just before letting the door open a crack. Eric was still there. "Thank God," Ryan thought. He let the door open the rest of the way. As he entered the room, Eric looked up. "Ryan! You made it...I figured out Packbell's plot after you left. What happened." Ryan shook his head angrily. "Oh, nothing...I just got a prejudiced opossum in my face." "That..was the plan, I'm afraid. I'm sorry." "Don't be...it wasn't your fault... How could we have stopped it? Even if I knew what had been up, I still would have chanced the trip to Knothole for help." Ryan couldn't find a key, but as he stood under the air vent, he felt something hit him on the head. Rubbing the painful area, he looked up to see a familiar dark face looking down at him. He smiled at Sandra, and picked up the key. After unlocking Eric, the feline pointed at a strange green rock. "Ryan, do you see that rock? It came here instead of you." Ryan's mouth opened wide, as did his eyes. "T...That's the comet that hit me before I was transported. It's my only link to my past life... I have to get it back." Ryan ran towards the console, almost touched the rock, and screamed out in pain. Both just outside the room, Sonic and Sandra both flinched. Eric looked at what had happened. As Ryan pulled his right hand away, something was wrong with it. The pointer finger had been roboticized! "Whoops...did I forget to tell you that rock was put in a roboticizer field?" Packbell smugly said from a door on the other side of the room. "You didn't expect I'd just leave your friend here alone, did you? Ha!" Ryan pointed at Packbell, with his roboticized finger, possibly to yell something. Instead, Ryan concentrated, and a laser beam shot out of the finger, impacted into a surprised Packbell, and sent him flying away from the door. Ryan smiled. "I learned the trick from watching a few workerbots on the way here...welding laser...could come in useful." Ryan quickly looked around for the source of the field around the rock, and blasted it with his new laser. He grabbed the rock, and collapsed. Sonic finally ran in. He got to Ryan, only to see he wasn't Ryan anymore...he wasn't human anymore, actually. Ryan had changed shape, into a wolf who looked about the same age. The wolf got up, shook his head, and said, in Ryan's voice. "I feel different...am I OK?" Ryan looked at his hands, and jumped up, surprised. He grabbed the rock again, and he was human once more. This time, Ryan saw the change, and grinned. "I'm liking this stupid comet more and more." Packbell's voice sounded from the door again. "Isn't that nice... Oh, well." Packbell pulled his laser rifle out and pointed it at Ryan. "Instead of roboticizing you totally, I'm going to just kill you. Alloy armor protects well, doesn't it?" Packbell hadn't noticed Sonic in the room, and wasn't prepared when the hedgehog ran over and grabbed the blaster. Sonic grinned. "Well, thanks, but now we must go. With the proof that Ryan isn't a traitor." Packbell smiled. "You know my own rifle can't-" That was all he got out before he realized Sonic had run out with Eric and Ryan. Packbell screamed in rage, and kicked the metal wall, leaving a huge dent. Part 11 Back at Knothole, Ryan was greeted by all the Freedom Fighters...except by one opossum, who, with eyes towards the ground, went up to Ryan and said, "I'm...sorry I said all those things about you." Ryan just smiled and said, "Apology accepted." The opossum looked up, surprised. "You...aren't mad?" "No... If you had come to my world by accident, people would have said the same of you. I'm not like that, but unfortunately, too many people are." A young fox ran up to Ryan. Ryan looked down at him an said, "Who're you, little guy?" The fox looked around. "Tails... Is it true you can change into any kind of animal? Sonic said you could." Ryan grinned. "Looks like a certain hedgehog is starting rumors now... I don't know...so far, it's just a wolf." "Can you try?" Ryan sighed. "If it'll make you happy..." Ryan picked up the pouch that he kept the stone in, and concentrated on Tails. When he looked up, he saw he did, in fact, now look like a fox. "Hmm...guess I can." Tails looked at the new fox's hands. "What happened to your finger?" Ryan had almost forgotten. "Oh...this. It happened when I tried to recover this stone. The laser in it is very helpful, though." Ryan knew he had a lot of explaining to do, but knew Eric and Sonic would back him up. Part 12 Packbell was still angry...at the human. If that human was ever found by him again, he was dead. No games, just swift death. Ryan walked through the woods, just wandering. He knew by the firelight that he was still close to Knothole. When he heard the sound he knew who it was, and that the sound was on purpose. "Hello, Sandra." Sandra smiled, though Ryan couldn't see it in the dark. "So, you're a metamorph now?" "I guess I am...thanks to this," he said, holding the pouch. "Can you imitate someone, or just morph?" "Just morph. I tried to imitate Sally...harder to do and all, but all I got to be was a squirrel. Still, it'll keep Packbell on his toes trying to find me again." The two friends just stood there for awhile. Then Ryan help out his hand, and Sandra put hers in it. They clasped hands in friendship, then released. Ryan turned back towards Knothole, and Sandra watched him go, knowing she would see a lot more of him in the future, as an ally -THE END- Name: Ryan Species: Metamorph; originally human Sex: Male Age: 15 War standing: rebel sympathizer Occupation: Great Forest Freedom Fighter Specialities: taking on characteristics of other animals by concentration, tinkering, desroying SWATbots with a powerful laser beam on right hand Summary: Ryan started out as a mid-teen human who was transported to Mobius through time and space due to two simultanious accidents in both realities. Packbells transporter was activated just as the strange comet, which now gives Ryan morphing abilities, hit him, and somehow, the two were semi-bonded. Distrusted at first because of his human origin, Ryan finally proved himself in the end. Friends with most of the Freedom Fighters, he makes a valuable asset with his continual changing. Allies with Sandra Nightweaver, the two will help each other whenever the other is in trouble. After a lone mission to prove his loyalty, he returned with a roboticized finger, which turned out to be equipped with a powerful laser. Ryan now uses his laser to destroy SWATbots, and his morphing abilities to wander unnoticed by other, neutral groups, and stay hidden from Packbell, who, when they meet again, will give no quarter, and will not hesitate at the chance to kill Ryan.