The Great Swamp scramble

[tiff15]

"In pursuit of Priority Two Hacker. sector Alpha Zulu"

Tristina snarled as she tapped the hover mode button on her wheelchair. Hopefully, the modified accelerator in her backpack would save Sonic the trouble of the hovercraft and swatbots being as fast as him. It was easy enough to break into Robotnik's lab and steal the accelerator, but getting back out had proven difficult.

"Priority Two Hacker Now bearing southeast in Sector seven, quadrant 35"

steering the wheelchair (technically a 'hover chair' now) with the joystick on her right, Tristina began fasioning a throwing knife with her left hand. as she moved her fingers, the knife seemed to materialize out of thin air, starting at the tip of the blade and finishing at the hilt, etched into the transparent blade were coded instructions in Tristina's native language, Mikanuean. Tristina just managed to throw it before a laser beam struck the control panel at her right hand. screaming, Tristina struggled to control her now death spiriling wheelchair. barely managing to shift back to ground mode in time, Tristina landed roughly in ankle deep muck of the Great Swamp. Knowing the Swatbots would be hot on her heels, Tristina covered her damaged wheelchair with reeds, then rolled over on her back and, scooting backwards, used a palm frond to cover her tracks. finding a small burrow under a overhanging rock, Tristina (little though she wanted to) lowered her upper body to neck deep in the muck and hid underneath the rock backed into the burrow. holding her breath, Tristina saw the tell tale metallic boots of the swatobts. "Target lost. returning to base."

Tristina let out a sigh as she heard the hovercrafts leaving. it was too late to try to repair her wheelchair now, as the sun was setting over the horizon. Once she was sure the swatbots were gone, Tristina clambered to her wheelchair and pressed the contact button to contact Nichole.
"Tristina? is that you? do you have the accelerator?"

"affirmative princess, but my wheelchair was damaged after a swatbot encounter. I'm going to hunker down in the Great Swamp and try to fix it in the morning."

"Okay. Just be careful."

"Will do, Princess. Tristina out."

[OctaScratchRock]

MEANWHILE


Snively sat down in Robotnik's chair, pretending to be him.

"Oh, I hate that hedgehog! Oh, Snively, do this! Snively, do that! Haw haw haw!"

Suddenly, Snively felt breath on his back.

"Mocking me, are you....?"

Snively spun around, and there was Robotnik, pissed off as usual.

"SIR! Um, do you need anything....?" Snively asked.

Robotnik grinned. "I ALWAYS need SOMETHING."

[tiff15]

swallowing hard, Snivley scrambled out of Robotnik's chair over the sidearm and ran back to his station. "Give me a status update on the laboratory that was broken into earlier this morning," Robotnik ordered.

a picture of a light blue hedgehog in a wheelchair soon filled the screen easily wheeling into the laboratory. once inside, Tristina looked around and picked up a mustard yellow brick. "what did she take?" Robotnik asked, snarling as Tristina raced out of the laboratory with swatbots on hoverbikes in pursuit. "y-your Sonic engine accelerator, sir. Swatbots report they lost Priority Two Hacker somewhere in the Great Swamp"

"Then send them back out! Find the Hacker and bring her and the accelerator back!"

Meanwhile,

Tristina waved a glowing blue hand over the accelerator, examining it. "Lucky I managed to swipe this before Robotnik could duplicate it," Tristina whispered once her eyes had faded back in. "Sonic would have had serious trouble if this were put to use." Tristina pursed her lips, considering just destroying the device. as Night fell, Tristina placed the accelerator in her backpack, laid her head upon the backpack and closed her eyes. sleep was quick, and the night passed without incident.

The next morning, Tristina pulled herself back to her wheelchair with her backpack on her back and was just getting started on repairing the auto wheel function when she heard the telltale sirens of hovercrafts full of swatbots approaching. "Great. another welcoming committee." Tristina grumbled, pulling herself into her wheelchair. "as blue would say, time to juice!" Tristina muttered, taking off with two waves of murky water cascading on ethier side of her.

[OctaScratchRock]

MEANWHILE


Robotnik looked down at his plans.

"Without that accelerator, my plans are incomplete. If there's a way to get it back from that God-forsaken hacker, then I'll use it. I don't care WHAT I lose in the process; she's caused me far too much damage."

Snively walked in.

"Sir, your new device is programmed and ready."

Robotnik shot a wicked grin. "I'm ready....."

He walked into a backroom chamber where a giant machine (similar in size to Robotnik's Ultimate Annihalator) stood.

"Soon, that hacker will trouble us no more." Robotnik said confidently.

Snively looked up at Robotnik. "Unfortunately, sir, we need the accelerator to make this thing work."

Robotnik sighed. "Just when I thought life was perfect."

[tiff15]

Suddenly, a loud beeping issued from Robotnik's command room. Snivley raced over to the controls and read the report. "Swatbots report contact with Priority Two Hacker, sir. Units are now in pursuit."

"I want the hacker alive and the accelerator."

Meanwhile,

Tristina began to make a 'S' pattern with her wheelchair, causing the waves of muck to wash over the persuing Swatbots. Tristina glanced at the ring button on the arm of her wheelchair but decided against using it. It would take too long to recharge, and she knew not to use it foolishly. "I still have to shake off some of these tin heads, though," Tristina muttered.

Looking up, she noticed the long looping vines hanging from the trees. "Better plan than nothing," Tristina shouted, taking a sharp left and veering towards the entangling vines. ducking below them, Tristina wove between the trees, smirking at the sudden crashes and explosions as the swatbots became entangled in the vines or crashed into the trees.

[OctaScratchRock]

"You're telling me they were defeated by TREES for crying out loud!??" Robotnik exclaimed.

Snively was sweating like a cow at a McDonald's. "I mean, it's not MY fault their AI can't detect trees too well..."

"EVERYTHING'S YOUR FAULT, YOU PIPSQUEAK!" Robotnik snapped.

Snively looked down at all the plans. "So, um, dare I ask, what DOES this accelerator do?"

Robotnik began to explain. "You see, it shrinks the particles in the machine to generate power for it to use. Lots of molecules in a smaller area generate more power, you see."

That's when a brilliant idea shot Robotnik in the head. "Maybe the hacker should KEEP the accelerator," he said, as a devilish smile spread across his face.

[tiff15]

[All units return to base. cease current operations and return to base. new orders to come]

Tristina frowned as she saw the current command being fielded to the swatbots. such a change in directive could only mean bad news.

taking out the accelerator, Tristina gave it another quick scan. "The thing hasn't been activated by any means I can tell." Tristina muttered to herself, looking it over. "Maybe it works pass..." Tristina glanced behind her. she noticed the crystal used to power her turbo mode was only half full. "Ive been wheeling manually for the past half hour." Tristina mused. "The power crystal should be full to the brim." Tristina glanced back at the retreating swatbots.

tapping the communication button, Tristina waited for the signal that the triple encoded signal was connected to Nichole.

"Tristina? is everything alright?"

"The swatbots persuing me were just ordered to abandon the chase and return to base. Im going to send you some co-ordinates in the Great Swamp. I want you to send Rotor to meet me there. If Im right about this Accelorator, it migh not be safe to bring it back to Knothole."

Tristina's ears perked up, hearing the familiar roar of Stealth Bots approaching.

"Stealth Bots approaching my position Princess. I have to go. I'll send the Coordinates shortly. Tristina out"
with that, Tristina revved up her arms and took off.

[OctaScratchRock]

Sally thought for a moment and began to send a reply.

"Wether it's dangerous or not, we ought to take it back to Knothole. Rotor, Tails and I will need to study it, and we can only access the tools and things we need from there. We'll NEED you to bring it. Just make sure you don't do anything dangerous or dumb with it, because we don't know what we're dealing with yet!"

Tristina thought for a second. Should she obey Sally's order? Of course she should! Sally was the princess! Or, maybe not. If she brought it to them and something bad were to happen, she could prevent it by just not bringing it. By now she was basically having a war in her own brain, trying to decide wether to obey Princess Sally or disobey her.

[tiff15]

as Tristina dodged the oncoming stealth bots, trying to think of a way to lose them, she debated internally whether or not to obey the Princess.

The princess said not to DESTROY the device or do anything dumb with it. Tristina thought, weaving through a nearby clump of trees. a coded knife to disable any tracking or retaliatory devices is neither.


nodding to herself, Tristina tapped the auto-wheel command, snarling when sparks flew from it.
I cant juice AND make a coded knife at the same time... Tristina then winced as pain shot from her forearms and biceps to her shoulders. Oh come on, arms! don't cramp up on me now!

Growling, Tristina ducked into some thick overhanging moss and bit her tongue to keep from screaming. hearing a sickening whine, Tristina looked up to see the stealth bot circling the tree, scanning for her. using her elbow to hit the contact button, Tristina leaned as close to the communicator as she could. "Princess..." she breathed, abandoning codenames for the moment. "my arms are seized up and the auto wheel function on my wheelchair is non-functional. I'm hiding under a tree near Ironlock prison. I am begging you, Princess. send Sonic to deal with this Stealth Bot or I will be forced to take very drastic measures to ensure the safety of you, Knothole, and the Resistance."

"what measures are you suggesting, Tristina?" Sally asked with Sonic, Rotor, and Tails grouped around her.

"I will be forced to engage Self Destruct protocols, Princess."

[OctaScratchRock]

Sally and Sonic immediately set out to find Tristina, hoping to goodness that she wouldn't be a pile of ash by the time they got to her. Sally sat in Sonic's arms as the blue hedgehog soared at full speed.

Finally, Sonic jumped out of the bushes and spindashed the robot, parts flying everywhere.

"Tristina!?" Sonic called out, looking around for her. Sally began peeling away the overgrowth looking for the poor robotic hedgehog. "Tristina!?" Sally called.

Tristina heard them easily and began to walk out of the overgrowth, and was about to announce her presence. However, at that moment, she accidentally bumped her arm on the accelerator.

This suddenly triggered the instability of the part, and it suddenly began to fizz noisily.

Sonic and Sally turned to see Tristina holding the glowing, electrifying object. The hedgehog and the chipmunk were about to show happiness to see the friend that they had worried over, but upon noticing the object, their excitement suddenly turned to confusion.

Suddenly, a giant flash filled the vicinity, and just like that, it disappeared.



Tristina woke up. The last thing she could remember was the sudden flash of light. As she rubbed her eyes and tried to gain vision, she noticed that the ground she was standing on was a little bit slimy and mushy, it being dark reddish in color.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her shoulder. She spun around, expecting to be attacked, but was relieved to see that it was just Sonic.

However, in the darkness, neither of them could see Sally anywhere.

"I'm just glad to see you're not blown up," Sonic said.

"Thanks...." Tristina said, looking around.

And that's when she saw it.

Standing directly above the two hedgehogs was a seemingly giant brain.

Sally's brain.


Sally woke up. She looked around. Everything looked normal. Only, where were Sonic and Tristina?

Sally decided to follow protocol. If other Freedom Fighters were to disappear without a trace, she was to alert the entire Freedom Fighter force.

"I'll have them search and comb the entire Swamp area." Sally said. "They can't have gone far, can they have?"

[tiff15]

"Are we...inside the Princess?" Tristina asked slowly, not sure if she should be feeling shocked and revolted or shocked and fascinated. "I've always wondered what it would be like to BE Sally, but..."

"this is way too close for the ol' comfort." agreed Sonic, picking Tristina up and revving his legs.

"We need to find a way to contact Sal." Tristina nodded, and the two took off. "maybe we should try her ears?" Tristina suggested. "some how we've got to let the Princess know we're inside her...literally!"

[OctaScratchRock]

Meanwhile, Sally had gotten the Freedom Fighters combing the swamp in search of Sonic and Tristina.

"I saw them myself. I know they've gotta be out here somewhere!" she said.

"Don't worry." said Rotor. "You know we'll find them if they're here."


-MEANWHILE-


"You think we should make a dash for Sally's eardrums?"

Tristina knew it was their best bet. However, she also knew that Sally's ear canal would be too narrow to crawl out of, so they couldn't just escape at the ears. They'd have to get to Sally's eardrums and hope their voices were still audible (given how much they'd shrunken due to that accelerator.)

"You look like you're deep in thought, Tristina." said Sonic. "Tell me, what's on your mind?"

[tiff15]

"If we can get to Sally's eardrums, we can let her know where we are. the ear canals, however, would be too narrow for us to leave. It might be best to try down her nose or mouth if she lets us." said Tristina, grabbing onto Sonic's shoulders.

Sonic looped her useless legs around his waist then took off for Sally's ears.

"I'm more concerned about the Accelerator. what happened to it after it shrunk us? if it's still out there and still has my speed energy, Sally may be in more danger than we are." Tristina continued, raising her voice to be heard over the roar of Sonic's speed.

"Sally, I found Tristina's wheelchair!" Rotor called, pulling back the curtain of moss to reveal the wheelchair. "When I built her wheelchair, I installed a recall program in case she ever got separated from it." "so it will lead us to her?" said Sally, looking at the control panel. "usually...if she's activated the tracking beacon on her bracelet. according to the control panel, she hasnot." said Rotor, pointing to the row of buttons on the right armrest of the wheelchair.

[OctaScratchRock]

Sally began to look over Tristina's wheelchair. "How could she have left THIS behind?" asked Sally.

"Beats me." said Rotor.

Sally reached into her vest and pulled out Nicole.

"Nicole, scan Tristina's wheelchair for DNA."

Nicole did just that, and sure enough, Tristina had been in it within one hour ago.

"Now we know she can't be TOO far off...." said Sally.

[tiff15]

"Sal's lookin' for us!" Sonic called to Tristina as they sped along Sallys central nervous system. "She's found your wheelchair, and she said she knows you can't be too far." "Cool. wait 'till we tell her where we've been all this time!" Tristina replied, loosening her grip on Sonics' shoulders as the hedgehog slowed to a stop near a large beige pulsing mass.

"If my Anatomy of Sally is correct..." Tristina whispered so as not to alarm the Princess. "This is her eardrum." "Sal!" Sonic called, cupping his hands around his mouth. "It's Sonic! can you hear me?"

Meanwhile,

Sally's ears perked up. "Sonic? Where are you?" Sally called, looking around. "Sally?" Rotor asked confused. "I just heard Sonics' voice, but it's really faint..." Sally replied

"Princess! This is going to sound really strange," called Tristina, cupping her hands around her mouth as Sonic had done. "But I need you to crouch in front of my wheelchair and open your mouth as wide as you can. If everything goes to plan, You'll see Sonic and I shortly."

"Sonic, have you got a power ring on you? I need you to juice as fast as possible to Sally's mouth, throw me out, then jump yourself. If Im right, whatever shrunk us to this size will wear off in time for us to exit Sally."

"What if your wrong?" Sonic asked. Tristina took Sonic's hand and shook it. "It was a honor working with you, Sonic." she replied.