Tristina, in spider mode, quietly crept out onto the graveled metal behind Antione. "I cant believe this." Sally whispered, her voice dripping with disgust. "Robotnik's pollution is everywhere."

Tristina straightened her hoverchairs spider legs so she was even with the Princess, who was peering over the train car by hanging onto the roof.

"Man, would I love to turn Robotnik into a can opener." Rotor growled loudly. "Cool it, Rote." Sonic whispered to his friend, pressing a gloved finger against his peach lips.

Tristina peered out from behind the train car to see a large alcove. inside the alcove was two doors, one on the left hand corner and one near the back.

a loud grinding noise gathered the attention of the remaining five freedom fighters. "Keep your eyeballs peeled for Uncle Chuck." Sonic whispered, his eyes firmly on the left hand corner door.

As each worker bot emerged from the door, Tristina felt a pang of pity. Each had been a citizen once of a healthy, functioning society. They each, Tristina assumed, had hopes and dreams, maybe even families or children. Julia. Tristina thoght, closing her eyes at her heart gave a painful throb for her mentor.

"There he is."

Sonic's whisper snapped Tristina's eyes open to see the elderly hedgehog she had spotted earlier exiting the building. "I'll get him." Sonic said determinedly, jogging over the roof of the train car and sprinting towards the hedgehog.

"Sonic!" Sally whispered, throwing out her hand to the hedgehog. "Please be careful blue." Tristina whispered, noticing that the elderly hedgehog was nearing the back wall door.

quickly crafting a bright blue throwing knife, Tristina pulled her arm back and prepaired to throw. "What are you doing?!" Sally whispered, staying Tristina's arm. "Pre-maturely closing the door so Sonic can catch his Uncle." said Tristina, lightly pushing the princess aside and hurdling the knife towards the door.

the knife sailed over Sonics soulder and struck the door, melting into it before dissapearing into the door completely. "Uncle Chuck, wait up!" Sonic cried, grabbing the hedgehogs shoulder as the doors closed infront of him. "Uncle Chuck, chill will ya? its me!" said Sonic with a smile.

The smile dissapeared as the hedgehog let out a mechanical roar and wrenched his arm from Sonics grasp. "Uncle Chuck, what are you doing?" Sonic asked as the elderly hedgehog let out a menacingly sick hiss. Walking over to the wall, Uncle Chuck slammed his robotic fist against a bright red button.

As a loud alarm began to peal through the air, Uncle Chuck turned to Sonic and let out another hiss. raising his hands, fingers curled, Uncle chuck let out another mechanical growl and began to stealthly approach Sonic.

"Uncle Chuck, its me! Sonic! your one and only too cool nephew! Don't 'cha remember?" Sonic asked, backing away from the robotic hedgehog. Sonic leapt to the side as Uncle Chuck slammed to the ground, still growling.

"Bunnie! grab him!" Sonic shouted. Racing over, Bunnie wrapped her arms around Uncle Chucks torso as the hedgehog prepared to strike again. "Get him out of here, Bunnie." Sonic instructed, turning to the button Uncle Chuck had pressed. silencing it with a grunt and a kick from his shoe, Sonic jogged back across the train platform and leapt down underneath the overhang.

As Sonic dropped down into the train yard, Tristina greeted him with a nodd then turned thier attention back to Bunnie's struggling captive. "Sacre Bleu! zis is terrible what Robotnik has done to him." said Antione, shaking his head sadly. Tristina silently agreed, frowning as Sonic approached the elderly robotic hedgehog.

"Hang in there, Uncle Chuck. We'll get ya back to normal." Sonic the turned to the Princess as he said "Any ideas, Sal?" "Well," said Sally, approaching Sonic from behind. "The robotization process is still a big mystery. but maybe..." Sally then opened Sonics backpack and began to dig around. "Just maybe..." she said quietly, pulling out a familiar golden ring. "We can jog his memory."

"Yeah." said Sonic, smiling as Sallys plan caught up to him. "Past cool, Sal." Tristina watched curiously as the Princess approached the struggling robotic hedgehog and held out the power ring.

Uncle Chuck let out a confused growl, then a grunt as his brown metal fingers curled around the basketball sized golden hoop and drew it closer to him. Sally stepped away, releasing the ring as Uncle Chuck stared at the Power Ring, mystified. "Sonic, try talking to your uncle. Maybe that will help." Tristina whispered. Sonic nodded and approached the hedgehog.

"Uncle Chuck, this is one of the power rings you invented for me. remember?" Sonic asked. Tristina bit her lower lip and craned her neck to look into the robotic hedgehogs eyes. They were dimmer then before, she noticed, and seemed to flicker between dull and bright.

"Sal, its workin!" Sonic exclaimed, his fists clenching with glee. Uncle Chuck looked up from the power ring and gazed up at the dark blue hedgehog infront of him. "Atta way Uncle Chuck!" Sonic encouraged "Its me! Sonic! your fave nephew. Please remember!"

Tristina frowned slightly at the pleading in Sonics voice at the last two words. She didnt think she had ever heard the hedgehog beg before. At least, not to that degree.

the elderly hedgehog blinked, then squinted at Sonic, as if seeing him clearly for the first time. "Sonic?" Tristina smiled at Uncle Chucks first raspy word as Sonic positively beamed. "Is that you, Sonny?" Bunnie released the hedgehog at last as Sonic embraced and said "Uncle Chuck! Yes!".

Tristina wiped away a tear at the reunion as, slowly, the robotic hedgehogs arms wrapped around Sonic's neck. "Man I sure missed you." Sonic muttered, his shoulders trembling slightly. "I missed you too." Uncle Chuck rasped, squeezing his nephew lightly.

After a long silence, the two broke apart, and Uncle Chuck wiped his eyes on the back of his hand. "Still good looking and always cooking, eh Sonny boy?" Uncle Chuck asked, as if his nephew had just dropped in for a vist. "You got it, Unc." said Sonic, still grinning. "Shakin' and bakin'."

"Princess Sal." said Uncle Chuck, returning the princess' smile as he acknowledged her. "Rotor." He continued, looking at each of the freedom fighters in turn. "Bunnie." The southern belle's face softened into a light smile at her name. "Oh, its a real treat to see you again." the hedgehog continued, smiling.

"Welcome back, Charles." gushed Sally happily, waving lightly. "How ya doin', Chuck." said Rotor, tipping his hat to the hedgehog.

Tristina perked up as Uncle Chucks eyes fell upon her. "I'm sorry," said Uncle Chuck, confused "But I'm afraid I dont remember you."

"Its alright, unc." said Sonic, clapping his Uncle on the shoulder. "This is Tristina. she joined us about two weeks ago." Tristina wheeled forward and gave a bow.

"Its an honor to meet you, er...I'm sorry. but is there a less formal name I can call you rather than 'Uncle Chuck'? It seems awfully personal, having just met you and all." Tristina admitted, blushing slightly. Uncle Chuck gave a hearty laugh, then smiled. "Of course, dear girl. I understand completely. I also go by 'Sir Charles'."

"Daddy knighted Sir Charles for his brillance and accomplishments in science before Robotnik took over." Sally explained.

"Sir Charles." said Tristina, bowing again. "Doctor Hedgehog." said Antione, stepping forward. Clicking his heels together, Antione raised one hand above his left eye in salute.

"Bojour." "Bojour, Antione." Uncle Chuck said with a laugh, bowing to the coyote. "Come on, Uncle Chuck." said Sonic, grabbing the hedgehogs shoulder. "We're bailin' you out of this dump." "Oh oui, yes." said Antione in suite. "The better the sooner."

"Not yet, Sonny." said Uncle Chuck, grabbing his nephews shoulder. "Theres something much more important than me that I need your help on." "More important than you?" Sonic echoed, confused. "Like what?" "I'll have to show you. Down in the mine." said Sir Charles, motioning for them to follow him.

"One moment, Sir Charles." said Sally, turning to Tristina. "Tiff. The tower?" "Right!" Tristina said, slapping her forhead. In the excitement of the 'return' of Sonic's uncle, she had completely forgotten about the looming threat to Knothole Village.

"Princess, I'll keep in touch VIA Nichole, is that all right?" Tristina asked, motioning to the speaker button on her wheelchair. Sally nodded as Sonic gave Tristina a salute with two fingers. "catch ya later, Tiff." Tristina nodded, bid Sir Charles farewell, then shot off towards the junk yard.