Embedded Files
The relative peace of the control room was broken by the sudden sliding open of the metal entry door. Grimer looked over his shoulder in the darkened room, lit only by the various monitors- including one admittedly rather large example providing most of the illumination in the room- and the odd bit of strip lighting. In through the door strode the imposing figure of Doctor Ivo Robotnik. Grimer smiled a slimy smile and twiddled his bony green fingers as his employer entered.
“Good morning, Doctor,” the sycophantic scientist offered.
“Indeed it is, Grimer,” Robotnik replied with a typically toothy grin, not caring to return Grimer’s greeting. He walked with confidence towards his comfortable chair and took his place in it to survey his domain.
Robotnik tapped a few keys on a keyboard in front of him and a figure pinged onto the screen in big white characters against a bright pink-purple background.
96.8%.
Robotnik smiled. Not bad going. 96.8% of the planet’s surface, fully under his control.
Of course, cynics would point to that remaining 3.2%. Robotnik, of course, wasn’t so foolish. Quite aside from anything else, dominion over 96.8% of the planet should be an impressive figure to anyone, or so Robotnik reasoned. But the remaining, as yet unconquered areas of the planet represented parts of Mobius which Robotnik had little interest in- uninhabitable wastelands, for instance- or which he simply hadn’t yet managed to find the right kind of Badnik for the terrain or extreme conditions. And that’s why he had Grimer as his chief scientist, to help him create those Badniks, in between working on Project: Metallix, at least.
But the 3.2% represented something additional to Robotnik. It was a challenge. For a genius scientist, though an admittedly awful person, the 3.2% was an obstacle and it was for him to come up with a solution. Things like this gave Robotnik something to focus his attention on. He quite liked it. Problem-solving was part of being a scientist, after all.
Of course, the biggest problem Robotnik had faced was Sonic the Hedgehog and, to a lesser extent, Sonic’s friends. A little careful manipulation of chaos energy and Robotnik was able to not only enter the Special Zone but bend its inhabitants to his whim. Sonic had been flung off into the future. Problem solved.
Except, of course, Robotnik had come to learn that Sonic was back. Six months without Sonic had been more than enough for Robotnik to conquer 96.8% of Mobius. He was, for all intents and purposes the dictator of the entire world. And Robotnik liked that.
But he wasn’t too keen on the fact Sonic was back at all. For all the posturing, for all the assurances that he’d already won, Robotnik was forced to keep Sonic’s image at the back of his mind at all times, ever mindful of the fact the hedgehog would prove to be a constant thorn in his side.
Robotnik ran a fat finger over a scroll wheel and further data slid up the screen. Morning reports from his various Badnik forces, Trooper squadrons and other assorted loyalists to the cause. Robotnik liked to be well-informed of what was going on on his world.
Something caught the doctor’s eye. A red exclamation mark in a warning triangle was flagged up next to the Green Hill Zone’s morning report. A Trooper squadron had been posted there in one of Robotnik’s most joyous victories since Sonic’s disappearance. But now the squadron leader had bad news. In light of Sonic recently showing his face in his home Zone, Robotnik knew this could be serious.
He opened the message and it scrolled up the screen:
Glorious Robotnik,
Work detail for Green Hill Zone at unacceptable level. Zero workers attended work this morning. Zone was searched thoroughly- inhabitants of Zone all gone. Green Hill Zone completely empty of non-mechanical life.
All glory to the doctor!
Trooper Squadron Leader 01-01
Empty? Robotnik’s blood might have ran cold if ever it ran warm. Sonic had to be behind this. But how? It wasn’t possible. The Green Hill Zone was expansive, true, and Robotnik fully expected finding his old foe to be difficult. But he couldn’t possibly have vanished into thin air- he had patrols at every border of the Zone. Escape was impossible.
Except, clearly, it wasn’t, as Sonic and his friends had found a way. Had he and the others hidden underground? No, Robotnik reasoned, there was no chance Sonic could build an underground network large enough to hide everyone in the Zone- certainly not without drawing attention. The caves on the cliffsides offered little protection so it seemed unlikely the entire Zone could be hiding there either.
But then where? Robotnik tried to think it through logically but he just couldn’t get the answer to come to him. Sonic had no means of getting in and out of the Zone undetected- if he took to the skies, he’d be spotted. So how could—
Robotnik stared as a realisation hit him.
How could Sonic have arrived in the Special Zone?
A Mobius Ring seemed out of the question. Robotnik’s forces had scoped the Green Hill Zone for those and even successfully captured one- which was how Robotnik was able to get into the Special Zone in the first place. So if not a Mobius Ring, then how?
Robotnik frantically typed, pulling up a file on the Special Zone. All the rumours anyone had ever logged about the Zone were registered here.
And there it was: the Star Posts of Mobius.
Of course. If Sonic could use those to travel, he could theoretically go anywhere to hide. Obviously Sonic wouldn’t stay in the Green Hill Zone for long. He had to know Robotnik would bring his full might against the Zone if he did.
Now the problem was working out where on Mobius the hedgehog could be. And since every Zone on the planet had a Star Post, he could be absolutely anywhere.
Robotnik punched the armrest of his seat in frustration. Grimer looked up, “Something wrong, master?”
“How is Project: Metallix coming along?” Robotnik spat through gritted teeth.
Grimer was a little nervous, uncertain of where his leader was headed, “Er, the last stage of testing was very positive. I’m confident we’ll be ready to launch before too long.”
Robotnik took a breath, “Good. Excellent.”
Grimer wasn’t sure exactly what was going on but he knew his hide had been spared for now. He dared to push for more information, “Is there anything you need from me, Doctor?”
“Yes, Grimer, as a matter of fact there is,” Robotnik steepled his fingers as he spoke with authority and purpose, “I need you to inform all Trooper squadrons to be on the look out for Star Posts. I’m about to upload a file to their hive network giving them information on what they may look like. Of course, if you’ve seen Star Posts, you’ll know they have different designs, so do try to make clear to those metal-brained machines that there may be a variance in aesthetic.”
“What should I tell them to do if they see one, sir?”
“They are to report directly to me in that instance, Grimer. I will arrange to have the offending item removed, collected and destroyed. They’re going to be the key in rooting out Sonic the Hedgehog and his band of furry friends. I may not be able to activate them, but I can ensure Sonic doesn’t get the opportunity either.”
“Very good, Doctor,” Grimer nodded and walked over to a communication desk to relay the message to the Trooper squadron leaders.
“Very good indeed,” Robotnik nodded. It was okay. He’d seen the problem and he’d come up with the solution. He absolutely had the matter under control. There was no questioning his authority, which remained absolute.
Robotnik tapped the same keys as he had before and the 96.8% figure flashed back onto the screen.
Robotnik ground his teeth.
That 3.2% was really bothering him now.
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