Chapter 4

a huge wave of water trailed behind Sonic the hedgehog as he searched for his companions. As Sonic switched again to the murky sand like turf, his keen eyesight alerted him to something in the swamp. zipping back to the spot, he peered at the object. tracks. two pairs of boot prints and what appeared to be a impression of light bursts of air. "Right behind ya, Sal." said Sonic, flicking his eyes in the direction the trail offered. revving up once again, Sonic took off, following the footprints.

Meanwhile, in Ironlock Prison, Tristina scouted ahead while Sally and Antoine followed behind. Tristina had switched back to 'ground mode', and was looking up at the various shaped cells. some were long, like tubes, while those closer to the bottom were more square and roomier. "Huh?" Tristina asked, looking down at her wheelchair wheel. as she worked to free the piece of cloth that had become lodged under her wheelchair wheel, she heard Antoine speak.

"My princess," Antoine began. "I'm thinking we should..." "Princess!" Tristina called, interrupting Antoine. "What did you find, Tiff?" Sally asked as Tristina offered her the piece of cloth that had been pinned under her wheelchair wheel. "Is this familiar to you?" Tristina asked, offering the piece of cloth to Sally. the ground squirrel laid the cloth flat in her palms and examined it. "Its...from my fathers cloak." Sally said, her voice becoming thick with emotion.

"I recognize the design." Sally continued, her voice breaking the last word. Tristina reached out and placed a comforting hand on the Princess's shoulder. "He was here." she whispered, barely holding back a sob. Antoine approached Sally's right shoulder and placed a comforting had on it, as Tristina was doing. Sally composed herself and looked at her friends.

"Come on." she said in a rallying voice, leading the way once again. Tristina and Antoine looked to one another, then began to follow the ground squirrel down the hall. As they continued walking (and wheeling), Sally clenched the scrap of cloth in her fist. suddenly, a breeze blew a random door shut, and Antoine leapt into the air. landing in Sallys arms, Antoine gave a weak giggle.

Tristina could tell the ground squirrel was not amused. "Eh. Hello." he said shamefacedly. "It was just a...clever way...to get into your arms...my princess." said Antoine. Tristina bit back a smile and shook her head at the Coyote. even in this dark place, some things never changed.

Following his friends trail, Sonic the hedgehog found himself in front of a dilapidated crumbling building. "Whoa." Sonic whispered to himself, looking across the moat at the crumbling fortress. "Mondo spooky." putting his fears aside, Sonic revved up and ran towards the edge of the drained moat. his speed allowed him to stop running half way and allow his inertia to carry him across to the other side. Sonic smiled at his athletics as he landed in front of the opened double doors.

Meanwhile, deep within Ironlock prison, Sally pushed open a cell door, and carefully stepped inside. light began to flood into the room. Tristina peered into the cell, pushing her wheelchair into the room. various papers were strewn across the cell floor. a uncomfortable looking bed sat in the left had corner of the room.

"Antoine, Tiff, my father was in here." Sally whispered excitedly, looking around the room. "Seems like he put up a fight when he left...or was taken." noted Tristina, gazing around at the papers. reaching down past her wheelchair wheel, Tristina picked up one of the papers and examined it. "Sally! look at this!" Tristina exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth. "Your father knew about Mikanus Island!"

Sally rushed to the disabled hedgehogs side as she showed the paper to her. "these papers are all over the place." said Sally, looking around the room. "Princess, I understand this was your fathers cell. but may I take these papers back to Knothole for study? they may have a clue to what happened to my people." said Tristina, looking into Sallys eyes. The ground squirrel nodded, and Tristina began to wheel around the room picking up any scrap of paper she could find.

"Wow." Sally muttered, causing Tristina to look up. Sally had Nichole out and was staring at a large box shaped computer. Nodding to herself with a smile, Tristina resumed gathering up the papers on the floor. Sally held Nichole up to the old computer, comparing the sizes. "I wonder how long your father was held here?" Tristina asked Sally, not really expecting a answer. Tristina held up one of the papers to a light to try to read the writing on it.

Suddenly, a shriek from Antoine caused both Tristina and Sally to gasp and look up. Antoine, for his part, was clutching the top of the wooden cell door. "What're you doin' up there, Ant?" Sonic asked, chuckling. Tristina let out a sigh of relief. "Sonic" breathed Sally, sounding relieved as well.

"Whats up Sal?" Sonic asked, zipping over to Sally's side. Tristina noticed the regrouping and put the papers in a backpack hanging off her wheelchair handles. "Look what I found." said Sally, closing Nichole as Tristina wheeled over to help Antoine off the door. "A computer. so?" Sonic asked, scratching his head. "My father must have sent me those messages from this computer." said Sally, approaching the boxy machine.

the dark gray machine sat quietly on its box like base, its bluish gray round keys poking neatly from its dark gray computer. "Looks real ancient." mused Sonic aloud. "Does it work?" Asked Tristina, staring at Sally's discovery.

"I don't know." said Sally with baited breath. "keep your fingers crossed." Sally added, pressing one button on the top row, and another twice on the bottom row. suddenly, the 'ancient' computer began to emit a low hum and the screen filled with a jagged white horizontal line along the top. along the bottom was a smaller white line. "Access code please." the computer droned, the lines wavering more harshly as the computer 'spoke'.

"Try..." Sally put her finger to her mouth in thought and looked up at the ceiling. "'Bean'" said Sally, looking back at the computer. "Stand by for message." replied the computer as a slight whirring came from it. "'Bean. Check subter file. deposit.' end of message." Sally closed her eyes and a single tear flowed from her eyes.

Tristina once again put a comforting hand on the Princess's shoulder. "Thats definitely from my father. somehow he knew I'd find it." "Fantastique!" Antoine shouted, throwing his hands into the air. after a moment, however, he lowered his hands in confusion. "What does it mean?" he asked, shrugging.

Sonic merely grimaced and clenched his fist in determination. "He didn't finish the message." said Sally, shaking her head. "But at least now I know he's alive! I just don't know where." said Sally, not noticing Tristina's brow furrowing in confusion. "Computer," said Sally, typing on the keyboard as she spoke. "Access subter file." "Checking subter file." the computer responded, this time bringing up a picture of what looked like a map.

"Guys, look at this!" gasped Sally as the computer scrolled to another section of the map. "Do you know what these maps do? they give us access to all of Robotropolis." said Sally, asking and answering her own question. "Amazing!" said Tristina, wheeling next to Sally for a closer look. "Check out the tunnels!" said Sonic, pointing to the map. the hedgehog then backed away and shrugged modestly. "Man, I didn't know they existed!" he said, grinning.

As Sonic spoke, Sally pulled out Nichole. "Ready Sally." the computer stated. "Access main database." said Sally. "Accessing...password, Sally." "Subter." "Nichole, get the old data out!" Sonic whined, drumming his fingers against a cell wall. Sally glared at him out of the corner of her eye. Tristina smiled at the princess, then noticed a crack in the floor.

"Hmm. I wonder..." muttered Tristina, raising her hand and closing her eyes. as her hand began to glow, Tristina's eyes snapped open to reveal two pupiless orbs. "Program accessed." Nichole reported. "Transfer to holographic disc." said Sally. meanwhile, Tristina's face slowly shifted along the bottom of the computer to the floor they were standing on. "Sonic..." she said in a monotone. Due to her tone, Sonic didn't answer. Tristina closed her eyes and lowered her hand. "Sonic stop!" Tristina cried, wheeling over to Sonic and grabbing his wrist.

Just before she jerked Sonic's drumming fingers away from the wall, a small stone dislodged above the computer and hit the 'ancient' computer's keyboard. a two tone alarm sounded, and the room began to shake. "Hey, whats going on?" Sonic asked as he, Sally, Antoine, and Tristina covered their ears. "Switching to h-" Tristina was cut off as two trap doors opened beneath them. Sonic, Sally, Antoine and Tristina cried out as the plummeted into the dark depths below.