Synopsis : Dr. Robotnik has invented a new virus and plans to use it on the freedom-fighters! How will they defeat him? The Chaos Strain Chapter 1 A Sonic the Hedgehog story Written by Lee Jin Long Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prowers and all other characters featured in this story are copyright by SEGA Inc., Archie Comics and/or DiC Productions. Please do not use this story to gain money. If you have any questions, email me at ljlong@mbox2.singnet.com.sg! Doctor Ivo Robotnik, Overload of the planet Mobius, held up a small vial of green liquid. "This, Snively," he explained. "Is the formula for my victory! Once a drop of this has entered a person's bloodstream, it will start to roboticize his body, except for his skin. After 3 days, he or she will find me and once he or she takes one more drop, his or her mind will turn to me!" Snively cowered, expecting Robotnik to inject him first. However, Robotnik continued speaking, "If I can get hold of one of the freedom-fighters, I can make him my spy! Then, I can capture that infernal Sonic the Hedgehog! Snively, put a vial of this is every new SWATbot. Once their lasers hit something, a drop of my new Chaos Strain will enter the person's blood!" In Knothole, all was well. It was just like any normal day for the freedom- fighters. Bashing up a few SWATbots, clearing up the mess which Sonic always makes when he runs...Yup, it was boring all right. Rotor was fixing his inventions and Sally was making checks through the village. Sonic ran around, trying to find something to do on that ultimately boring day. "Sally, can I go to Robotropolis to run for a while?" Sonic whined. "This is bboorriinn'!!" "NNOO!!" Sally shouted back. "For the last time, Sonic Hedgehog, do not go to Robotropolis!!" Sonic's head drooped, feeling ashamed. However, his mind was soon to be satisfied. "Sally girl! Ah think ther' a few SWATbots comin'!" Bunny Rabbot shouted from the Control Room. Sally immediately ran to the Control Room, forgetting about the village check. Even she was starting to get bored when she heard Bunny shout. The radar screen lit up with a few blips here and there. This is the chance for me to stop Sonic and Tails to get some action, she thought. Aloud, she shouted through the open door, "SONIC! TAILS!" There was no response, only a gust of wind that slammed the door shut... Sonic and Tails rushed off when they first heard Bunny's alert. Pushing through the undergrowth, they finally came upon a clearing where a few SWATbots were standing, as if they were deactivated or something. Tails cautiously walked towards them, checking to see if they were active or dead. Suddenly, one bot burst to life and shot a blast at Tails. Unfortunately, Tails was facing the other way, so the blast landed on his head perfectly. Sonic thought he saw a slight green glow but he was not sure. When he saw Tails crashing to the ground, he burst out of the bushes, furious at the SWATbots. *SMACK**CRUNCH**BLAMN**CRACK**BOING**PIANG*... Soon, the SWATbots were nothing more than a pile of scrap metal, ready to be shipped back to Robotropolis. Sonic picked up the limp of Miles Prowers, and rushed all the way back to Knothole. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Timeline : 5 hours later... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tails woke up, his head spinning and aching. All around him, he could barely make out the shape of Sonic and Sally bending over him. He sat up, rubbing the back of his head, feeling rather woozy. "Whoa! Take it easy, littl' bro!" said Sonic, pushing Tails back down into the bed. "You got hit by a SWATbot laser directly in the head." "No wonder I feel lightheaded," replied Tails, trying to shake away the grogginess. "I'll be fine. Just gimme a few days of rest and I'll be good as new!" Sonic and Sally thought for a while, before going out, locking the door behind them. They did not want Tails to have another accident. Tails sat up immediately when they left. He felt a little strange, to say the truth. He felt cold inside, as if his insides were made of metal or something... The Stealth-bot flew over the clearing where Sonic trashed the SWATbots. Robotnik growled in anger as he saw the wreckage. "Check Strain capacity," he ordered the Stealth-bot. The Stealth-bot sent a smaller probe down, programming it to plug it into any SWATbots that were still in one piece. Robotnik looked at his screen as the data arrived: {Downloading...} {Sending information to Robotropolis...} {Receiving...} {Unzipping...} {Decoding...} {SWATbot No. 1576/D Capacity : Full} {SWATbot No. 2035/E Capacity : Full} {SWATbot No. 9205/O Capacity : Full} {SWATbot No. 53**/* Capa***y * E**t*} {******* *** 7**3/* ******t* : ****} Robotnik cut the transmission, just as it was about to break. He sat back in his gloating over the one statement. {SWATbot No. 53**/* Capa***y * E**t*} -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Timeline : The next day... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tails walked around in is flat, massaging his aching legs. For some unknown reason, he felt as if his legs had unlimited energy, as if they were about to burst forth any moment. He touched his legs, feeling them. Furry. However, they felt unusually cold. Maybe he was having a fever. He walked to the medicine cabinet in the corner of the room and opened it. Cough...Craziness...Headache...Cramp...Fever! He took it out and read the label: Fever Pills. Take 5 pills hourly. Warning! Do not feed to Mobians under 3 years of age! 5 tablets! Sheesh, thought Tails. Ah, might as well... He poured out 5 pills from the brown bottle and got a cup of water from a beaker. Steadying himself for the near impossible feat (for a 10 year-old), he shoved the 5 pink pills into his mouth, and gulped down the water as quickly as he can. He opened his mouth, checking to see if he had swollowed as least 1. 5 pills popped out of his mouth and landed on the floor. Nuts! Tails swept the wet pills under the carpet and got back into bed. Maybe it will go away in a few days, he thought. With that, he fell asleep... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Timeline : 10 hours later... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tails woke up, feeling worst than before. His arms now felt really cold, and he was shivering. Pushing away the blankets, he ran to the water jug and poured himself a gigantic cup or water. Now, he felt even colder! Tails then rushed to the medicine cabinet, hoping to find another medicine. As he wrenched the doors open, the door broke off, as if it was made of paper. "Must ask Sally to fix the hinges," Tails thought as he rummaged through the thousands of bottles in the cabinet. Cramp...Fever...Hot...Constipation...Cold! He took it out, hoping to find a smaller diagnosage: Cold Pills. Take 1 every hour. Warning! Might cause high fever! Tails poured out about 3 of them and shoved them down his throat, without even drinking a drop of water. Then, he took another blanket from the cupboard and slept soundly that day... Robotnik sat in his chair, looking at the countdown on his screen. 38 more hours, he thought, and the one with the Chaos Strain will come to me! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Timeline : 38 hours later... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Tails woke up with a start. He had been dreaming about Robotnik! It was as if Robotnik was calling him! Suddenly, Tails eyes turned green as the Strain took effect on is movement. He moved towards the door, opening it easily. He then flew off silently, through the darkness, towards Robotropolis. No one noticed him. Robotnik stood ready with his Strain Gun, ready to inject the unfortunate victim. Suddenly, there was a resounding CRASH! behind him. He turned around, only to see Tails landing and breaking out of his trance. Robotnik quickly raised the gun and fired. The dart punctured Tails's skin, letting in the Chaos Strain. Tails screamed in agony as the Chaos Strain slowly overtook and mechanized his mind and brain. Suddenly, the struggling stopped. Tails straightened and then knelt down on one foot in front of Robotnik. "I am ready to serve and obey, Master!" he said in a monotone. His eyes had that sickly shade of dark green. Robotnik laughed with relish as he thought of what he was going to do. "Go back to Knothole. Spy on the freedom-fighters and send it back to me," he ordered. Tails stood up, nodded and then flew through the hole in the glass celing. He flew back to Knothole, into the sick bay, fixed the door and closed his eyes under the blankets. To be continued...