Mercia: Mission Improbable

[Leda]

Though the sun had crept its way over the barren hilltops surrounding the once-beautiful city of Mercia, a dark mist continued to linger in the air; the smog never seemed to leave, really. Robotnik may have made his base further to the south, but his shadow loomed in all directions. It was a dark day in Mercia even when the sun shined.


Which tended to wreak havoc on the lungs when one wasn't careful. Rouge covered her mouth and struggled not to cough, lest she alert the Swatbots patrolling on their hoversleds to her location. Luck was with her at least in that there weren't many; apparently, security was focused elsewhere. Which most likely didn't bode well.

Rouge clenched the muscles in her throat and stifled the urge to cough. Conditions seemed to be at least relatively acceptable; now was the time to make their move if they were going to. The bat looked up at the ground -- yes, up, as she happened to be hanging upside down from a high ledge. Or she was a second ago; in an instant she'd released her grip and spread her wings, soaring swiftly back to the ground and meeting back up with the waiting Freedom Fighter group.

And upon trying to give her report, finally released the coughing fit.

[Jamie Lee]

"Ah, easy there, luv!" Rob said as he approached Rouge and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

[Leda]

After much gasping and choking, Rouge seemed to get most of the smog out of her lungs and took a breath of quasi-fresh air. "F-Fine," she croaked. The bat paused for one more good breath, then continued. "There are Swatbots on patrol, but not many. We ought to get in okay... But the lack of security here could mean there's more inside."

[Lans]

"Bots, shmots. Any sign of the snitch?" Manic asked.

[Leda]

The bat shook her head. "He must be imprisoned."

[V for Vizetta]

Vic stood off to the side, picking this moment to chime in.

"Uh... we can't even be sure he's been captured yet." A moment's pause, before he continued.

"We'd have to check the prisoner registry to know for sure."

[Jamie Lee]

Rob made an ugly face at Manic's comment before turning to Vic. "Aye, that's what you're here for. Are you still up to it?"

[Leda]

Yep, still coughing.

[V for Vizetta]

Vic took a moment, then nodded.

"Yeah, I just wish I'd brought my bo with me."

[Jamie Lee]

Rob acknowledged Vic in the form of a nod, and though he wanted to say more, his current concern for Rouge took over his focus as he gave her a few pats on the back hoping to calm her. "Hey, you gonna be alright there, luv?" he asked worriedly.

[Lans]

"...Look, lets not waste time on this. Whatever he is, snitch or...not, he'll be taken to Itzzy, and that means the HQ," he said, sticking a thumb in the general direction of said location.

[Leda]

"Yeah," the bat gasped. "Just... got caught in a cloud of smoke..." Rouge clamped her hands over her mouth to choke out another coughing fit, heading down the alley toward what used to be downtown Mercia in the process. "We need to go," she stated flatly once able to speak again, and offered no further explanation.

[V for Vizetta]

Vic didn't question the order, and instead just followed Rouge.

[DB]

Meanwhile, in the depths of the city's jailing facilities, a certain overlander was sitting on a cot, hunched with his head propped with one arm, staring blankly at the filthy brick wall across from him.



...


I was wrong.


And now I'm going to die.

He shifted his position- rubbing his face with both hands, thoughts swirling through his mind- memories of things past, but mostly, regrets.

Especially recent ones.

If only I hadn't... If I would of trusted them...

[Lans]

Suddenly the hall was filled with an echoing voice. "SWATbots, like, report to the control room!"

The two SWATbots on either side of Nik's cell door looked at each other, then immediatly tromped forward towards the prisoner food dispenser, turning the corner only to find a certain green hedgehog holding and empty cup in one hand.


"Yeah...I didn't think that would really work," he said, before tossing the cup aside, simultainiously throwing a pair of needle like objects that he'd been concealing in his other hand.

The bot scramblers each hit one of guard's chests, causing both SWATs to spark and jerk briefly before slumping over.

Manic calmly stepped over them and, without giving Nik so much as a glance, proceeded over to the cell door controls, pulled out a screwdriver, and, instead of using it to remove the bolts holding it on the wall, proceeded to use it to pry off the cover.

[DB]

Nik looked up in surprise at the sound of the hedgehog's voice, and was even more surprised by the SWATbot's subsequent slumping over, and yet even MORE surprised at the hedgehog wandering over and working at the lot. Jumping from the cot, he approached the bars, warily grabbing hold of them and peering out at the green mobian.

"Are... are you here to rescue me??"

[Lans]

Manic threw him a 'duh' look. "Nah, I'm here cause you forgot to giftwrap yourself for the bolt brains," he said sarcastically, pulling a few wires from the panel, "Really, what does it LOOK like I'm doin'?"

There was a spark and the cell door slid aside. "Come on, we've gotta go, now!"

[DB]

Well, he wasn't going to question this.

He did that before.

It didn't work.

"Where to??"

[Lans]

In response, Manic moved over the the end of the hall and pulled open a large chute, filling the air with a foul smell. "After you."

[DB]

The overlander recoiled a bit at the stench, giving the mobian a glance that seemed to say 'Are you serious?', but that was shortlived. He quickly remembered that his life was in danger at the moment and dived down the chute. Literally.

[Lans]

Manic smirked in a slightly satisfied way. They didn't necessarily HAVE to take the garbage chute out, it was just the quickest way. Then his face scrunched up in disgust as he remembered he had to follow. Making sure to clamp his mouth CLOSED (oh god the horrors of that one time he'd actually landed with it open), he slid into the chute after Nik.

The chute exited in a large chamber filled mostly with old food wrapping...and old food, as well as the...remains of food that had actually made it to live prisoners before they were taken to the roboticizer.

[DB]

The overlander managed to pick himself back up to his feet surprisingly quick, thanks to not wanting to lay in garbage any longer then necessary. He wrinkled his nose at the stench. "Smells like something died in here."

Saying that, and remembering the position he was in, he turned to the beast and whispered

"Now where to?"

[Lans]

"This way," Manic said, already heading down one of the tunnels leading away from the area.

They were a good distance from the detention building when Manic suddenly stopped short and listened for a sec. He then whispered loudly: "Down!" and tackled Nik into a nearby garbage pile, clamping a hand over the overlander's mouth as he got out another bot scrambler with his other hand.

Just then the sounds of something mechanical approaching could be heard from the junction just ahead...

[DB]

Nik's eyes widened as he found himself not only back into the trash, but with a grubby beast hand over his mouth.

Needless to say, there was a muffled and angry reply for the briefest of seconds until he once again remembered where he was and what the situation was. Sobering, to say the least.

[Lans]

From out of the left hand branch of the cross tunnel up ahead came a robot, but not a SWATbot. Instead it was a robian deer, a workerbot. It had a slightly larger than backpack sized container strapped to its back, and every now and then would stop to pick up pieces of scrap metal.

When it reached the intersection, it paused and looked around slowly.


Manic tightened his hold on Nik, but silently slipped the scrambler back into his pouch.

[DB]

The overlander stared in dumbfounded (but silent) horror.

That robot... it looked just like a beast. But it wasn't. Was it?

[Lans]

Manic waited until the sounds of the Robian's footsteps had faded before releasing Nik and getting up. "Come on, we need to go," he said, glancing in the direction that the deer had gone for a moment. At least it hadn't been someone he knew...

[DB]

The overlander followed the hedgehog's lead. However, he didn't get up nearly so confidently or gracefully. Instead, he sort of stummbled and appeared to have legs made of jello.

Staring wide eyed in the direction the robian had gone, he whispered quietly to the hedgehog (since, after all, something could maybe possibly still overhear them), "what was that?!?"

[Lans]

Manic glanced at Nik for a long moment before finally answering. "That is what they do to prisoners," he said ominously before heading down the tunnel in front of them.

[DB]

A chill fell down the overlander's spine with that statement, and although he hadn't eaten anything recently, he suddenly felt as if he had a belly full of something horrible and squirming.

Prisoners... get turned into robots?

For a moment he simply stood there, wavering slightly at the waves of nausea washing over him. Until he realized the distance that was increasing between himself and Manic. Panicked, he darted off in pursuit of the hedgehog.