Embedded Files
Grimer stood and wiped the sweat from his brow. Fixing the wiring on the Buzz Bomber had proven tricky and taken longer than he would have liked. In truth, Grimer knew Doctor Robotnik would have likely been displeased at him wasting his time like this. In Robotnik’s eyes, if a Badnik developed a fault, it was usually easier to melt it down for scrap and start again. But Grimer took pride in his worth nevertheless.
He'd never admit it to his employer, but Grimer did notice a certain slap-dash element to Badnik construction in the older models designed by the doctor himself. Wires weren’t always connected correctly and circuit boards often flopped around, unaffixed. Grimer supposed that since Doctor Robotnik had to oversee the production of several hundred Badniks he would be willing to turn a blind eye here or cut a corner there. But Grimer was a man who took pride in his work. He was taking a break from finalising Project Metallix and felt the urge to tinker a little. Robotnik wasn’t around anyway, so what was the harm?
“Having fun, Grimer?!” Robotnik’s voice bellowed behind the green grimacing scientist. Grimer let out a yelp. He spun around, only to find the room empty. Well, that was all Grimer needed- he was under so much pressure he’d finally cracked. He’d gone mad, hearing Robotnik’s voice.
But the unmistakable roar of Robotnik’s laughter filled the air once more, “Confused? Don’t worry, that just means my new equipment works!”
“N-new equipment, master?” Grimer stammered, uncertain.
“Invisible camouflage. Isn’t it remarkable? I’m wearing a suit covered in tiny cameras that take an image then project the image captured from the opposite side of the suit. Feel free to applaud if you like.”
“It’s incredible, master! And you’re really there? This isn’t a joke?”
Robotnik tutted, “Since when was I known for my sense of humour? But if it convinces you—” he removed an invisible mask, leaving his head seemingy floating in midair like a grim apparition, “There.”
Grimer was unable to contain his toadying, “Genius, doctor, utter genius.”
“I know. And I want you to apply it to a wave of Badniks. If Sonic and his friends are going to attack sight unseen, we ought to return the favour in kind, don’t you think?”
***
Sonic, Tails and Sally emerged through the Star Post portal and came out in the Hill Top Zone. Sonic took a look around inquisitively, “All seems quiet here. Kintobor, are you sure there are Badniks in the area?”
Sonic’s watch spoke with the voice of Doctor Kintobor as the Kintobor Computer replied in the affirmative, “Positive, Sonic. Head north-west from your current location.”
Sonic looked at Sally and shrugged. Sally sighed, “It’s alright, Kintobor, at least someone here has orienteering skills.” She pressed a few buttons on N.I.C.O.L.E.’s handheld and tilted her head, “Hm. North-west would put us roughly…”
“Hey, I know!” Tails spoke up, “Isn’t that where the Hill Top Tribe live?”
“Right,” Sally nodded, “I sure hope Robotnik isn’t attacking them because somebody created a fifty foot statue of his greatest enemy in the immediate vicinity of the tribe’s village…”
Sonic played dumb, “Hey, Robotnik’s greatest enemy? That would be me, wouldn’t it?”
Sally scoffed, “You’re unbelievable.”
Sonic smirked, “I know. Hang on, you two,” he reached for their outstretched arms and applied a burst of speed to rush towards the village of the Hill Top Tribe.
The village was a sight to behold. Villagers ran screaming from errant laser bursts and projectiles, only to run right into… well, seemingly nothing, only to rebound and fall over.
“Chief Kordon!” one of the villagers cried out for their spiritual leader, “Why is this happening to us?!”
Chief Kordon remained calm in the face of panic, “I do not know. It is possible the gods are angry, though I know not what for. We can only hope to be sent a great protector to help us!”
“Ask and you shall receive, chief,” A blue blur materialised next to the chief, only to form into the shape of Sonic the Hedgehog, whose sudden stop threatened to mess up the fur of both Sally and Tails.
“Sonic the Hedgehog!” Chief Kordon was visibly relieved, “Once again, in our hour of need, you come to us. I truly believe you have been sent by a higher power.”
“Yeah, we call her Sally,” Sonic motioned at his friend.
“There’ll be time for wisecracks later, Sonic, there’s a situation here.”
“Right. Any ideas, N.I.C.O.L.E.?”
N.I.C.O.L.E.’s soothing voice spoke up through the speaker on her handheld, “I’m afraid it’s nothing mystical or exciting, Sonic. The readings I’m scanning make it clear- these are Badniks attacking the tribesfolk.”
Sonic rubbed his chin, “Yeah, ‘clear’ is right, they’re obviously invisible. Don’t suppose it’s possible you can tell me where to aim a Spin Attack?”
“Sorry,” N.I.C.O.L.E. offered apologetically, “They’re moving so fast that any information I give you would be useless by the time you put it into action. Call it input lag if you like.”
“Hey, I may be many things, but laggy isn’t one of them! I’ll just have to take a wild guess!”
Sonic watched to see where the laser beams were coming from, spotting one forming seemingly out of thin air. He hurled himself towards the source but, sure enough, the offending party had moved before Sonic could get to them, resulting in the hedgehog overshooting and landing face first in the dirt.
Tails rushed over to Sonic and skidded to a halt in front of him, kicking up a cloud of dust, “Sonic! Are you alright?”
Sonic spat dust particles from his mouth, “Ptoo! I’d be a lot better if you didn’t give me my own personal sandstorm, kid!”
“Sorry, Sonic. It’s pretty dusty near the volcano after all. Oh no, now look, I’ve covered you in dust…”
Sonic began brushing himself clean, “Thanks a bunch, bud. You know I pride myself in my appearance, now anyone will see this dust a mile away…” A lightbulb went off in Sonic’s head, “Wait a minute!”
“Probably best if I don’t,” Tails admitted, “Sally will get cross if we stand here doing nothing for a minute.”
Sonic looked at Tails and went to admonish him for such a silly remark but decided against it with more pressing matters to attend to, “Look, do you think you can use your tails to spin us up a little dust? I’ve got an idea.”
“Whatever you want, Sonic,” Tails replied, before diligently getting to work at spinning up a huge cloud of dust, using his twin appendages like a rotor blade.
Sonic was jubilant, “That’s it, Tails! Keep it up!”
Sonic crouched low and dug his feet into the ground. Then, without warning, he began running on the spot, holding himself in position on the ground with his hands. All the while, huge clouds of dust rose up around him.
Sally walked over to the pair, coughing, “Do you two mind telling me what on Mobius it is you’re doing?”
Sonic stood, “Watch and learn, Sal. That should do it, Tails, you can stop now.”
Tails did as instructed and stopped, standing up to see what Sonic was up to, “What’s this all about, Sonic?”
The next several seconds seemed to take ages to pass. Sally covered her mouth and nose with some irritation, eyes watering from the dust. Then, as Sonic’s plan revealed itself, she had to admit to herself she was impressed with his ability to think on the fly.
As the dust settled, pockets of it hung in the air and on the ground. Specifically, they covered the Badniks that had previously been unseen, giving away their location.
“Oh, I see!” Tails exclaimed.
“More importantly, buddy- we see!” Sonic hurled himself into the air in a Spin Attack and bounced from Badnik to Badnik. Tails needed no encouragement to join in, smashing any stragglers Sonic had missed.
As the last few Badniks smashed open, the cameras on their camouflage casing fizzled and popped before shorting out and revealing the form of the various robotic constructs they had been hiding.
A mighty cheer rose up from the Hill Top Tribespeople. Sonic, gracious as ever, took a bow, followed by a series of bows, soaking up the applause.
Sally shook her head, “Unbelievable.” She looked at the scene, then smiled to herself. Sonic was pretty good at this sort of thing.
***
Sonic had offered the people of the Hill Top Tribe to live in Knothole Village with the other refugees, but Chief Kordon had politely declined. There was no way they could leave their holy grounds. Sonic wanted to express frustration but he couldn’t, admiring the unwavering faith of the tribesfolk.
Elsewhere, in Grimer’s laboratory, Grimer’s faith in Robotnik was equally unwavering, though the events of the last day had provided a test. Robotnik rolled an invisible helmet about in his hands and sighed.
“Master?” Grimer enquired.
Robotnik shook his head, “I thought this might be the plan that succeeded where others failed, but Sonic saw right through it…”
Grimer couldn’t help himself, “Well, technically, sir, we all saw right through it! Eh? Invisible and all that…”
Two minutes later, Snively walked into the lab to check in on Grimer. He let out a piercing, high-pitched shriek at the sight of Grimer’s headless body, shambling about.
“It’s alright, Doctor Snively,” Grimer said, “Doctor Robotnik put this invisibility helmet over my head but he really pushed it on tight and now it won’t come off… if nothing else, I think I see where I went wrong…”
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