Sonic the Hedgehog - " Power of the Mind " - By Aaron Lye

E-mail : vicl@pacific.net.sg

Sonic the Hedgehog , Miles Tails Prower and other related characters are based on the characters created by SEGA , Archie Comic Publications , and the Sonic the Hedgehog Saturday morning series created by DIC and Sega of America . Other characters that appear or are mentioned in this story are original creations of their respective authors.

"Cast" of characters used in this story ( in random order )

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Sally
Sonic
Tails
Rotor
Antoine
David Prower - Shawn Wolski
Dulcy
Z'bar - Aaron Lye
Tasha - Aaron Lye
Tayla - Aaron Lye
Bunnie

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NOTE : IF I HAVE CREDITED THE WRONG PERSON(S) HERE , DO LET ME KNOW AND THE MISTAKE WILL BE RECTIFIED.
ALL INFORMATION ABOVE IS CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.

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READ ON TILL YOU SEE THE WORDS " THE END " , THE STORY'S INCOMPLETE UNTIL YOU DO

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WARNING : THIS STORY CONTAINS ONE REFERENCE TO AN ADULT THEME.

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Timeline: Immediately after the events in Tides of War

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A betrayer .... right in the highest law making body on Mobius ....

Sally Alicia Acorn's world was quickly crumbling in front of her eyes ....

First, Ari, a person whom she had fought beside against Robotnik, splits from her government, forms his own, and starts the greatest war since the Robotnik era, Mobius's first civil war: The Racial Wars.

Now, one of her closest friends .... had betrayed her to the enemy and allowed her to be captured ....

This could not be happening .....

It was obvious that everyone on the Council was now seeing each other in a different light ... any of them .... Bunnie, Sonic ... even Tails could be the traitor, and all were eyeing each other suspiciously.

Sonic snapped. "Good going, Rote! You HAD to blurt that out! Now, whoever's guilty knows that we're on to him .... or her."

Rotor retorted, "What was I supposed to do? Keep it to myself? "

David interjected, "You have severely diminished our chances of apprehending the criminal. "

Before the Council could tear itself to pieces by bickering, Sally composed herself and spoke. "Everyone, listen up. Until we find out who is responsible for this, I think the Council should be unofficially disbanded . Rotor , whose access code was used to enter the generator room ? "

Rotor turned to face the Queen and President of Mobius . " I'm not sure , Sal . Whoever did it erased the security code log . All I know at the moment is that at 12:59am yesterday morning , someone entered the generator room and placed a virus inside the shield's control computer that would cause it to crash partially at the exact time you were captured . The only way I think we can get some identification as to who did it is via the visual records from the cameras placed inside the room .... I'll have to check . "

Sally continued , " You realize that you're also under suspicion , Rotor ? "

"Yes , Sal , but I'm the one who knows the most about the generator . If there's anything to find , I'll find it . "

Sally gave in . "OK Rotor . But , you must have at least two scientists and two CGOs present at all times to collaborate your findings . "

It was then that Tayla spoke up . " Sal , if you want , I might be able to solve this problem now . I could do a surface scan on all the members to see if they had anything to do with the sabotage . "

Sally replied , " If you're a suspect , can we trust your report ? You know the findings of a telepath is not admissible to court . "

Tayla spoke back . " Sal , I'm not a suspect . Remember ? I'm not a member of this Council and I have no access to the generator . My people-"

Sally interrupted . "-your people refused to join the Federated Races before the war . I remember . Sorry . Anyway , as long as no one here has objections , I'm for it . "

No one on the Council disagreed . Tayla faced Sally . She spoke , " Sally , did you sabotage the generator ?"

"No." she replied . Tayla looked relieved and said , "That's true . You're clear , Sal "

The process was repeated , and Knuckles , David , Tails , Rotor and Antoine, Sonic , Lupee , Bunnie and the reps from the squirrels and several other races passed with flying colors . Tayla had problems reading Z'bar's alien mind at first , but the problem was solved . Tayla came to Dulcy . She focused on the dragon . "Did you sabotage the generator ? "

"No."

Tayla frowned . She sent a message to Dulcy . *You're holding something back , Dulcy . Let me scan you.* and waited for the reply .*No* Tayla's suspicions rose . *I'm sorry , Dulcy , but I have to do this .*

Tayla did a deep scan of Dulcy and was shocked at what she found . She had no idea ...... how did Dulcy manage that ?

She came out of her reverie and spoke . "She's telling the truth ."

*****

Sonic was speaking . "This isn't possible . Everyone checks out fine ! Rotor was sure it was one of us who did it ! Tayla , you sure that you did a proper scan ?"

Tayla seemed to be engrossed in thought . "....What ? Oh , I'm sorry , Sonic . I wasn't paying attention . What did you say ?"

Sonic repeated his question and Tayla replied . "Yes , there's no doubt about it . None of us had anything to do with it ."

Sally seemed relieved at that information . "Then we have another problem . Someone has access to our security codes . Rotor , try to get those visuals. The rest of you , come up with a plan of action ."

Rotor left for the generator center . He soon arrived at his destination and keyed in his access to the building . He proceeded to the administration section and seated himself at a terminal in the empty room . No one was allowed in here , except Council members , and the center was fully automated . He called up the visuals of the time in question , and told the computer to scan for biological lifeforms on the visual records . The computer obliged and took several lengthy seconds to process the 12 hours worth of visual information . Rotor activated the final result and the first lifeform he saw on the screen was a rodent scurrying over the floor . Rotor ordered the computer to display only visuals with people . The computer narrowed the list and Rotor saw himself staring at a list with only one item .

He had found the culprit .

Quickly selecting the item , he waited for it to be played back on the monitor . He drummed his fingers on the tabletop . When the visual finally played , Rotor gave a gasp of shock at who he saw on the screen .

He was looking at Sally placing an isolinear chip into the control computer and typing in commands .

He couldn't believe his eyes ....

Sally was the traitor ????

*****

A beep came from the door to Dulcy's quarters , and the dragon told the door to open . Dulcy turned to see who her visitor was , and found herself facing Tayla .

"Um....Tayla , hi . What can I do for you ?" The dragon seemed uncomfortable.

Tayla looked at the dragon . "Why keep this secret , Dulcy ? There is nothing to be ashamed about ... the Power is a good thing , and with the proper training , can be an invaluable tool . Why suppress it ? It is inborn in you . You cannot suppress telepathy ... "

Dulcy spoke . " Tayla ... you've been a telepath all your life . You just don't see it , do you ? Haven't you noticed how strangers react to you ? Like you're some kind of freak .... and then the Persecutors and all that . Why ? Because of your "Power" . People value their privacy , and they don't like the fact that there are people who can read their innermost fears and secrets as easy as reading a book . They see you differently , and that's why I've kept this a secret all these years . Besides , it really isn't much . I can only get a few feelings from people once in a while . I can't even read a mind , for crying out loud .... "

Tayla didn't say anything , and Dulcy continued . "I would very much appreciate it if you kept this a secret . No one has to know , and I would rather no one find out about it ..... for the moment ."

Tayla obliged the dragon , and got up to leave .

As she exited , Dulcy called out after her .

"Thanks."

*****

Rotor opened the door to his room , admitting Sonic and Tayla . " What's this about , Rotor ? Found the culprit already ? " Sonic joked , and was surprised when he got a positive response . " So soon ? Man , you're good ." Sonic commented .

Rotor motioned for them to take a seat , then he inserted the isolinear chip into the viewer and played back the visual .

Sonic and Tayla were stunned . Sonic started to speak . "But.....this makes no sense ! Why would she sabotage the generator to get herself captured ? And besides , Sally's the last person who would do a thing like this . This isn't possible ... could this be a fake ? "

Rotor shook his head . "I see no way that this visual could have been faked . It incorporates a new encryption technology . A fake would have been spotted in a instant ."

Tayla was shaking her head . "This is definitely impossible . When I scanned her , she was positively sure that she was not the culprit . There's no way she could deceive me ."

Rotor continued , "Sonic , was Sally at home with you last night ?" To which the hedgehog replied , "She only got back at 1:30 . She had a late meeting . Which makes it even harder to prove that she didn't do it ."

Rotor thought for a moment , then spoke . "I have an idea . Now that everyone on the Council believes that no one on it is a traitor , we can lay a trap ...."

Sonic questioned , "How?"

Rotor continued , "We could create a fictional story about some top secret item or something . Then , we announce it to the Council , and we wait at the trap to see who comes . Agreed ?"

The rabbit and the hedgehog nodded .

*****

"A prototype version of the quad-ion beam has been constructed . It is currently in Security Cargo Bay Nine , awaiting final testing . In theory , this new weapon can penetrate Alliance Central's deflectors within five seconds of contact , making it an easy target . Ship-based defensive screens will collapse within two seconds , making this possibly the most deadly weapon in our arsenal . I will give further updates on it's progress . I now hand the floor over to Mr. Z'bar ." Rotor concluded .

*****

Sonic checked his phased energy weapon for the sixth time , making sure that it was set to heavy stun . Rotor was tuning up his scanning device , and Tayla was in a state of meditation . The three had been hiding in wait at Security Cargo Bay Nine for over two hours with no sign of "Sally" .

*****

Back in Sonic's apartment , Sally was sitting in bed , catching up on reading a fiction novel she had replicated a month ago . She had reached the last chapter when she dozed off , too tired to wait up for Sonic any longer .

*****

The cloaked figure had been waiting for this moment . He closed his eyes , and used the ability .

*****

Tayla's ears pricked up . "Shh... someone's coming ."

Rotor activated the scanner . "One lifeform .... female ... ground squirrel......."

Sonic couldn't believe his ears . His wife .... betraying her own government... why ? He didn't know what to feel ...

The door opened , and Sally walked in , holding a scanner . She walked briskly over to the "device" , which was covered with a white cloth . Before she could activate the scanner , the three burst out from their hiding place .

The moment she saw them , she instantly withdrew a phased energy pistol , but Sonic fired first . The orange beam from the weapon impacted on Sally , and she fell to the ground .

Tayla suddenly gasped , and Sonic realized that all this time , she had been scanning Sally . He asked what was wrong but the rabbit was too engrossed in something to reply .

Rotor cut in . "Sonic , take a look at this reading of Sal I took before you stunned her ." He proffered the scanner to Sonic , who took it . "If you look here , you'll notice that there is very little synaptic (brain) activity . It's almost as if she's asleep ....."

Sonic seemed skeptical . "You mean she's SLEEPWALKING ?"

Tayla then interrupted . "No she's not . Quickly now , follow me . We have to go somewhere now if we are to solve this mystery once and for all ."

Tayla rushed them over to Tail's quarters and she banged rather loudly on the door , which opened to show a rather disoriented two-tailed fox who had been roused at 1 am in the morning .

Tayla just looked at the fox , and Sonic assumed she was communicating telepathically . Tails seemed to understand , and a bright flash enveloped the fox , which dissipated to show Tails in his standard Guardian cloak .

The group proceeded to the nearest transporter room , and Tayla keyed in a set of co-ordinates . She told Sonic and Rotor to wait in the transporter room and wait for her signal to beam them back . The fox and the rabbit stepped on the platform and disappeared in a torrent of sparks .

*****

Five minutes later , Rotor heard a voice in his head . *Rotor , get us back now . Three to transport .*

Rotor obliged , wondering who the third was ...

The three materialized , and saw Tails and Tayla propping up an unconscious and injured cloaked wolf .

Tayla spoke . "Here's your culprit . He's a rogue telepath , and a supporter of the Alliance of Races who lives in Mobotropolis . This isolinear chip ," She held up a chip "contains visual data on our encounter with this telepath , including a rather heated , but enlightening conversation we had prior to our skirmish , and when coupled with a statement from Sally , should be enough to charge this guy in cour--"

At the mention of Sally , Sonic and Tayla rushed to Security Cargo Bay Nine , where Sally was undoubtedly awake and wondering why she's where she is .

Tails and Rotor dragged the telepath to a holding cell , and placed two telepaths on guard there , as normal guards could easily be mind-controlled like Sally .

*****

Sonic concluded , "The rogue telepath who had been mind-controlling President Sally , under orders from the Alliance of Races , was today convicted of treason against the Federated Races of Mobius , and has been sentenced to life imprisonment at the Institute for the Rehabilitation of Rogue Telepaths , without possibility of reprieve or parole . This incident has reached all corners of the globe , and in a gesture of goodwill , the race of Telepaths has agreed to join the Federated Races , to prevent such events from happening again . The rogues , however , still work for the Alliance , and the situation must be monitored . That is all . I hand the floor over to the representative from the telepath government , Miss Tayla Earheart ."

Sally smiled . She had not been betrayed by those closest to her . It had all been a matter of the mind .....

The End