New Season series #3

A Fissure Among The Factions

Part II : The Escape

Morality would frown upon

Decency look down upon

The scapegoat fate's made of me

But I promise now, my judge and jurors

My intentions couldn't have been purer

My case is easy to see

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience

Peace of mind after what I've been through

And before we talk of any repentance

Try walking in my shoes

You'll stumble in my footsteps.

--Depeche Mode

A Fissure Among the Factions

Part II : the Escape

By A. Fleury

Blue eyes blinked, then opened. It was black all around, but not like it was dark. The air itself was the color of night.

He saw faintly a ringlet of gold. It was hanging in the air, swaying slightly.

Snively stared at it, lower lip trembling. That *ring*. That was what had gotten him in trouble. Brought him death.

No, it wasn't the ring. It was temptation.

Temptation killed. He was tempted by power. A powerless man wanting strength.

He clenched his hands into fists. But they were weak. His vision focused suddenly.

It wasn't a power ring!

It was a noose. Braided out of golden cord, just like the tassels on King Acorn's shoulder boards. It was swinging back and forth like a beckoning finger.

"Kill the traitor..." A hissing voice seeped from the blackness around him.

He whirled around but saw nothing. "Uncle?"

It sounded so much like Julian, that rasping hissing voice, laced with impatient disdain.

"Kill the traitor..."

No, it wasn't Uncle. It was King Acorn.

"Kill..." No... It was Geoffrey. He recognized the accent.

The next voice made him stagger backwards.

"Kill the traitor. He betrayed all of us."

Bunnie.

"NO!" Bunnie was on his side. She was his *friend*.

The darkness suddenly turned to light and he could see. His arms hurt, each one grabbed by a Mobian, both who wore featureless white masks.

The rope hung suspended on a large tree near the gardens. Mobians stood around it, screaming. He heard his name and insults, all about him and his kind.

He whimpered, trying to struggle, but the Mobians were too strong. Their claws were bleeding his arms.

A rock hit his shoulder as they dragged him forward. Then another struck. He tried to break away an arm to shield his face. They wouldn't let him.

He caught sight of Tails. The child had a rock in his hand, and he drew back his arm. Their eyes met.

The rock struck him hard in the face, and he heard the distinct *crack* of his nose, and he wailed. Blood spilled onto his lips and down his chin.

He was suddenly there at the tree, and he felt tall, standing upon a wooden crate under the noose. King Acorn was grinning as he dropped the looped rope around Snively's slender neck. The rope tightened, gagging him... a prelude to the next event.

Bunnie stood among the crowd, a rock still in her hand. He tried to cry out to her, but she turned away.

King Acorn's voice was viciously triumphant, and he heard the villagers laughing.

"Die traitor."

The box was kicked out from under him and he fell, then was snapped back by the rope. Bunnie turned back, and as his vision flashed red, he saw her

Smiling...

**

His head cracked upon the stone wall as he jerked back, moaning. His eyes fluttered open.

He lay shivering on the cold cell floor, panting, his eyes wide and fixated on a patch of moss growing in the wall.

He pushed himself into a seated position. Despite the cold, his brow was beaded with sweat, and he wiped it away with his sleeve.

Something was making a tapping noise of metal against metal and he heard grunted laughter. He turned his head to peer over his shoulder, eyes narrowing in contempt. Geoffrey was there, with a long metal spoon gripped in one hand, and he was rapping it against the bars.

"What do you want?" Snively turned all the way around, but didn't stand. He remained seated on the cold floor, glaring. "It's not time already, is it?" His voice was surprisingly firm.

"No." Geoffrey grinned, clanking the spoon rapidly between two bars. The tattoo of metal on metal was not an unfamiliar sound to the small human. It got on his nerves, and he snarled.

"Leave me alone then..."

"I just wanted to ask you what you wanted to eat on your last day alive."

Snively settled back against the wall, giving Geoffrey a cold stare. "I'll eat your heart...after I rip it out of your chest... Mobian..."

"HAHAA!" Geoffrey had a grand ole laugh at that. "Oh, that's rich, Snively, real rich." He shook his head. "I hope King Acorn lets me kick over the box."

Snively closed his eyes, drawing his knees closer to his chest. He felt sick. His arms clasped around his legs, hugging, for the moment not caring about this display of vulnerability. The skunk couldn't ridicule him any more than this.

Geoffrey tucked the spoon in his belt, casting a sharp glance at his watch. "Allright. Now it's time."

As if on cue, two villagers who also doubled as Geoff's MPs stepped into the jail. They came to stand on each side of the skunk.

"Door," said Geoff.

One of the MPs, a cat, stepped up and produced a key from his back pocket. He unlocked the cell door, opened it, and stepped aside. "Door!"

"Good, Sig." Geoff gave a curt nod. Snively eyed the opening, but didn't run for it, much less stand. There was no way to get around all of them in here.

"Manacles," commanded Geoff, and the other MP snapped to attention. Snively narrowed his eyes. He looked to be one of the men who had beaten him up a late Knothole evening. He'd just been out for a walk.

"Manacles," said the MP, taking a jangling set of cuffs off his belt, and putting them in the skunk's outstretched paw.

"Good, Tory, very good..." A black finger beckoned. "Stand up, Snively." Geoff stepped into the cell, grinning down at Snively, who refused to move. Defiance shone in those blue eyes, but it was a thin cover. Geoff could see the fear clearly beneath it.

"I said stand up." He roughly dragged Snively to his feet.

Arms were yanked behind the slender back and the manacles tightly clasped.

Snively whimpered; this was highly reminiscent of his second day in Knothole. But he wasn't going to trial this time. No, sentencing would be firm and in favor of punishment. There'd be no arguments on his behalf.

They were pulling him out now. The early sunlight wasn't that bright but it still hurt his eyes. He dug his heels into the ground, trying to slow them down, but they just kept walking, dragging him. He stumbled, whimpering.

It didn't take long to reach the gardens. A podium was under the big red-berry tree, the same one they'd tried to lynch him on before.

Like he'd expected, there was a crowd. God, it seemed everyone in the damn village was there. He tried to fight back again, but his captors kept walking like it was nothing, and it was. The most he could manage was a few kicks and a couple jerks of his torso.

So head down, he was pulled before the podium. No one was behind it, and the air was filled with yelling. Someone threw a tomato. It splattered on Snively's shoes and he stared down at it.

"Overlander scum!"

"You traitor! How could you?! We let you live here!"

"Hang him! Hang him!"

Snively wanted to curl up. The MPs stood solidly. Geoffrey was grinning, standing behind him, and Snively could feel his breath hot on the back of his neck.

"Oh, Snively," Geoffrey chuckled low. "Doesn't sound too good for you..."

"Shut up, Geoffrey," He hissed. "Shut up." He felt heat in his eyes and blinked rapidly.

Then, like a beacon of hope, her voice came. "Ya'll stop it! He ain't evil! He didn't do nothing!"

He snapped his head up. Bunnie was fighting her way through the crowd, heading for the podium. She reached it, and it seemed she would take a stand behind it, screaming in his behalf. But there was a hush over the crowd and they parted.

King Acorn, wearing his crown and his robes, swept through the crowd. His regality hovered over him like thick perfume, and he took his place behind the podium. His eyes traveled over the crowd as the last few people silenced.

"Citizens...good citizens! I'm sure you're all aware of why you're here today. One of yours has betrayed. This man."

A finger lifted and aimed squarely at Snively's face. His shoulders cringed, feeling dozens of eyes on him. It felt like drills boring into his skin.

"As you all may know, this man was once an enemy of ours. He worked in close connection with both Robotnik and Nagus."

'A lie. I was never on Nagus's side...' Snively narrowed his eyes. A bit of tomato slid off his shoe and plopped onto the ground. A lip curled; filthy Mobians, throwing their shit... they didn't know the whole story.

They never would, either.

"However he decided to come to us. He was given a trial, allowed to live with us, and never once was he punished for his crimes. We were *generous* with him. We were utterly forgiving."

The crowd murmured. Some people nodded. Snively scowled, scuffing his shoe in the ground. So forgiving they'd shunned him, or teased him, or beaten him.

But he deserved it...huh...well, some of it...

'But death?' I don't deserve to die...'

"But this wasn't enough for him. Unlike us, Overlanders are not capable of..." King Acorn paused, as if thinking. "living in harmony. They're a violent deceitful race."

There were no arguments. Snively wasn't surprised. All they knew of Overlanders were him and Julian and one-sided tales of the Great War.

"This man was not satisfied with our leniency and still craved destruction."

"No, he ain't like that!"

People were quiet, staring at Bunnie, frowning. But King Acorn plunged on without so much a look in her direction.

Snively noticed then, Antoine...standing far away from her, his head bowed and shaking. Something twisted inside. They were broken apart.

'But who cares...Ant was an asshole to me...'

Bunnie too had her head bowed but one fist was clenched.

'But she needs him...'

"So, he began to steal one of our most valuable resources, the power rings!"

The crowd made appropriate gasping noises and mutters of angry disbelief.

"Yes. He hid them away in Ms. Bunnie's hut. The poor girl was unsuspecting...she only was trying to *help* him." He shook his head. "Do not be angry at her for her naivety. Like all Overlanders, Snively was very capable of lying to gain trust...Overlanders have a keen knack for doing so."

'Only because Julian tricked you...you old coot...' Snively set his fiercest glare on the King, wishing the power of that stare could kill. But the king remained untouched.

"He ain't like Robotnik!" Bunnie yelled out again. "All them Overlanders ain't the same! That ain't right ta judge em all by Robotnik!"

The crowd gasped again and Sally grabbed hold of Bunnie's arm, shaking her head. "Sssh, Bunnie, please..."

King Acorn finally acknowledged her. "Ms Rabbot. I know you're upset, because this man was in your home for quite a while. You might've gotten to trust him, to even like him..." His voice seemed to suggest sheer disgust at that idea. "But this cunning snake was only earning your trust so he could plot against us."

Snively stared at the ground, seeing it blur before his eyes. He wasn't crying. But his chest was tight and his eyes stung, and King Acorn's voice blurred out just like the ground. Droning on and on about how evil he was, how he'd tricked Bunnie, how he'd stolen. On and on. He almost wished he'd just shut up and get to the killing.

And after the speech was over there was a horrible din. People yelling and cheering and *agreeing* with those false words their king said.

'But they can't help it, right?' Snively thought sadly, his eyes on Bunnie. She was the bright spot in the sea of sameness. Vouching for him. Deviant.

"Sentencing will be announced now, citizens."

But no, to Snively's awe, there was more brightness. It was in Rotor. Sally. Sonic! Rose-something-or-another. And Bunnie, of course, Bunnie.

"Your...your highness..." the Rose-gal said somewhat timidly. "Isn't this just..." she gave a short nervous laugh. "a tad unfair?"

"Yes, daddy." Sally's voice was much firmer. "We've never given sentencing without a trial; I don't care what the crime is!"

And the walrus, the shy walrus, he too spoke. "I think it's unfair too..."

"This is mondo uncool!" Sonic's brow was furrowed. "I think it really stinks that ole Snotley..." ('oh thanks, Sonic', thought the small human, sighing), "was stealing *my* rings! But dude, I still don't think you-"

"He laughs at our laws! I saw through that façade at his last trial; he thought it was a joke. Why should we be soft on this vile species?"

Snively inwardly cringed. It was true. He thought these animals and their ideals quaint. 'But why should I? They have morals straight out of the Bible.'

Maybe that was it then.

He had no more love for worn books written by ancients, coveted by a race nearly gone now. His race. The Mobians had their own Holy book anyway.

So yes, at his trial he had been smug, knowing if he played it right he would get through, carried by the animal's generous forgiving. And he had. But he hadn't been altogether confident. Fear had lurked in the back of his mind, and that fear had resurfaced, but ten-fold, because he knew he wouldn't get through this time.

Sonic shook his head in a helpless gesture. "I dunno, it just doesn't seem right to do that! Why can't we just lock him up?"

King Acorn raised a lecturing finger. "Containing evil never destroys it! Look at Nagus. We thought he was harmless and contained, but he has shown his evil nature. And Robotnik, who we thought had perished, has returned as well! If we only imprison this man, his evil will still exist to harm us one day."

"Shut up, you kids!" A boisterous voice came from somewhere in the crowd. "I want to hear the sentence!"

Others seemed to echo. "He's Overlander scum! He stole from us!"

"Spawn of Robotnik's!"

And to Snively's dismay, though he knew he was doomed, their shouts began to overpower that of the children and the elder Rose.

"Sentencing shall be harsh for this heinous man, and his stealing of our valuable resources."

"Yeah, tell us!"

"As punishment, I sentence this man, Snively Ivo..."

'My name is not Ivo', thought Snively bitterly, eyes narrowed in a glare of killing proportions. 'That's *uncle's* name, not mine...' As his thoughts ranted, his body shook. The crowd was holding its breath. He was too. It was making him dizzy.

The pause lasted only seconds in reality; in Snively's mind this was an eternity, but now eternity was over.

"...to death. This verdict will take place tomorrow, to allow him time to think about what he's done."

There was silence. Just total silence.

No way. There was a roar, a dull roar. People screaming or shouting or something. He felt something sharp hit his body. A stone, maybe.

But Snively's eyes had gone unfocused and if his arms had not been captive they would've been curled around his chest, clutching, feeling the dying mummers of a stopped heart. His breath didn't come in, and he felt woozy.

'But I knew it would be...'

He knew it was going to be death. The rope. The rope...and his neck burned like fire and the lack of breath became painful, seeming to wring his lungs into a twisted lump.

He drew in a great shuddering breath, and the shock of it made his vision go black for a moment. The noise blended into the foreground again, sudden, making his ears ring. They weren't all clamoring for his death; he could hear his small group of supporters shouting and arguing.

From behind him, Geoffrey's voice boomed, adding to the clamor. He wished he had an arm free; then he would arc a sharp elbow backwards, slamming that skunk in the stomach.

"Very good highness, but we should just get it over with now, eh?"

King Acorn shook his head over the din of the crowd, spoke something about punishment, and Snively's own voice finally rose.

"What do you think I've gone through?! Here? The city, everywhere, I've been punished my whole life!"

The crowd didn't seem to quiet; neither did he. "Even when I was a child, I was punished, for things I didn't even do... you don't understand what I've been through! You don't even know..." And then he cried out, for Geoffrey was yanking him away from Tory and Sig.

"Shut up, prick..." The skunk jerked him bodily around, starting to drag him away.

He tried to make them know. Make those damn Mobians know a story of suffering, of abuse, of hatred given and received. But Geoffrey would not let him, and so his words rang out, drowned out by the crowd who were so busy yelling they didn't notice he was being taken away. If only they knew...if only they knew the story of truth. Maybe they would forgive...?

He doubted it.

Back at the jail, Geoffrey was miraculously able to open the door, shove him in, and lock it, without the help of the illustrious Tory and Sig. 'Those bastards,' thought Snively. He glared hatred at the skunk who smiled at him through solid bars of steel.

"I'm surprised you can wait, Geoffrey, wait one more fucking day. Maybe your heart will give out from the anticipation."

"Oh, you can only hope, Snively..." Geoffrey shook his head, grinning wide. His sharp teeth shone dully in the muted light through the high tiny windows.

True, he could only hope. He didn't pray anymore. He didn't really even hope anymore, either, but what a nice thought it was of Geoffrey falling down with glazed eyes and lolling tongue in death, maybe his last breath cursing Snively? How sweet it would be. But hopes, and prayers, and figments of his imagination never came true.

**

He could imagine it. The feel of Freedom. But what did Freedom feel like, anyway? Would it be like wind through his hair? Kisses from a warm lover? Would it be richer and fuller than a pocketful of money?

But he had no hair, and had never been kissed by a lover, or at least not one who loved him. And money... it had no meanings here. The feel of Freedom was something he had not experienced, for being free and breaking free were two different things. He had always had *freedom*. And now he was deprived.

'So the question is, how will it feel to be free again?'

That question was soon to be answered. Well, as soon as he had his plan ironed out and flawless in his mind. Robotnik didn't want to act until every detail had been carefully mulled over, every step taken in the right order.

'If I fail and Nagus finds out...'

It was a thought he didn't want to finish.

But still, he wanted to finish planning as soon as possible. Everyday here was like being with a time bomb, constantly fearing those times when Nagus would explode.

He scowled as he paced. His red boots squeaked a little as he turned on his heel; they seemed to be wearing out from standing so long. But he hadn't been standing that long really, had he? Nagus had only overtaken his city a few months ago.

The time bomb. Well, he was his own bomb, one of the kinds with chemicals inside. His impatience was liquid, steadily building to combine with anger. Too much mixing of these and he would explode. He feared the damage would affect him far more than Nagus.

*Squeak* Went his boots again, and the sound seemed to echo metallically in the room. He realized it was footsteps coming upon the command room. He didn't flinch. They were a robot's. The footsteps he feared were rarely heard. Nagus, for all his clumsy appearance, could tred lighter than a cat.

"Sir," droned the SWATbot as it entered, "Repairs on SWAT factories #2 and 3 are at 100% completion."

"Good." Robotnik's voice came out as nearly monotone as the bot's. He was lacking interest in these petty matters lately. So, yes, they could churn out more brothers for this SWAT here, but they all ended up broken anyway.

Stronger bots would be a top priority when he regained control.

He watched the SWAT leave with a weary eye. Just getting control was a task he didn't know he could achieve.

No.

A fist clenched with the crinkling of leather around powerful knuckles. He *would* achieve it.

And soon. Very soon.

**

"But we have to have a trial!" Sally demanded, her voice loud over the crowd. It seemed to command attention like her father's.

"Why?" sneered a villager. "Overlander dirt don't deserve it!"

"Everyone deserves a fair trial," Sally shot back. "It's an important part of our laws. Our beliefs!"

"Well, we ain't got no proper laws with Robotnik in charge, eh? So who cares?!"

"Who...who cares?!" The insides of her ears were red, and had she been furless her face would've been bright with anger. "This is what we're fighting *for*! For our ways, our beliefs, our...our..." She sputtered off, her head shaking in disbelief. "I can't believe any of you would say something like that!"

"If he was a Mobian, yeah, I'd agree with ya, but he's an *Overlander*! They aren't part of OUR society!"

"No...no it doesn't mat-"

"It does! They aren't..."

"Quit talking, and let's kill him now..."

"Silence!" bellowed the king. "This decision is not up for debate. The Overlander will be punished tomorrow."

Geoffrey rejoined the crowd with a smirk. "I for one, stand by *my* King's decision. He knows what's right for us."

"It ain't right ta kill!" Her face was stony and voice stubborn; Bunnie refused to back down.

Someone interjected, quiet but still heard from his position apart from the rabbit. "*He* has killed so many."

Sally looked over at Antoine, and Sonic's brow crinkled in a frown.

"Antoine," Bunnie's voice came out shaky. "Ya'll can't..."

"He deserves to die." The fox's voice was flat, not rising in volume.

"Yeah," said Geoffrey, grinning wide; mean. "That's the spirit, Antoine!"

And even Sonic spoke, as Bunnie silently slipped away, her hands over her eyes, "I...I dunno...I mean, we did think Robotnik was dead. What are we gonna do with him and Nagus? Throw 'em in jail? Maybe we should just..." He gulped, "...get rid of 'em."

Geoffrey cackled. Antoine solemnly nodded. King Acorn cleared his throat.

"To some of you, this may not seem the justifiable action."

Bunnie's legs propelled her down to the pool. Her feet sank into the mud. She couldn't feel it, but it smelled warm and strong in the humid air. The heat had risen after last night's rain and by the water it felt almost jungle-like. She looked down at the mud. She knew what the King was saying. He was spreading his poor excuses...

..."But let me assure you, this is the right course of action. We have been lenient with this man to the point of absurdity."

...to kill. He would say Snively never did good, but he had helped them! Bunnie stared at the water and it blurred green and blue before her tears dropped.

"...Remember citizens, he committed treason, and yes, our punishment for treason is death. Yet we let it slide. We cannot let this blatant disdain for our laws and desire to harm us again go unpunished!"

'...he didn't want ta hurt us...' Bunnie's vision blurred again. She remembered him calling them dirty animals, she remembered the horrible insults flung between him and Geoffrey.

The waters stirred in the light wind. He had taken the rings. But so... She drew in a shaking breath. It didn't mean he wanted to hurt. He wasn't thinking of hurting.

He wouldn't hurt them, not when he loved her...

"...it is the best choice. For us and our future."

There were mummers in the crowd. There were no protests. At least not aloud. Sally looked torn; Sonic looked almost ashamed, his pointed ears laid back on his head.

They didn't want to kill, but their King deemed it right. And part of them agreed. The other part was soft, longing for things the war hadn't given them, mercy, forgiveness, life. Concepts they had kept strong in their group, tried to follow them... but now... they would be betraying those concepts.

But Sally couldn't move her mouth to say the words right. And Sonic; the noble hero, with those ears down, was shamed, but couldn't deny his agreement to kill. Just this once...

Well, it seemed the king had them in thrall.

"How can they listen ta him?' Bunnie's eyes traveled over the pool. It was green and blue, but there was a patch of red on the far shore. Ferns. She squinted and it blurred out of detail. Vivid vivid red, like blood. Or anger.

Opposing the king was wrong. She shouldn't do it... she loved the king, she loved the kingdom. And laws against treason were for a good reason...the punishment was fair...

No.

'Ah just can't support this...'

**

The sunset in Robotropolis was stolen. It seemed a great hand had snatched away the colors before they could bloom.

Robotnik's mustache twitched.

Afternoon faded into evening, both a listless gray. There was no wind and the smog clouds adhered flat and unmoving to the pasty sky.

Uninspired, but determined to create, Robotnik sat in the empty throne room, flipping though files. Robots and hovercraft and maps flashed before him.

To hide. To get past Nagus. If he went on the street, Nagus had to know, had to track his every move. He grit his teeth.

'Permission to do this, do that! Absurd, it's absurd! Soon I will have to ask when to go to the bathroom!'

His fat lips twisted into a sneer, because, sometimes he did have to ask.

He turned his attention back to the holographic display. 'Therefore...'

He had to get on the street in disguise. A sheepskin Nagus's eyes would pass over, unbeknownst of the wolf fleeing underneath.

He looked at Swats, but they were too small, and not hollow. He looked at techbots, remembering how Sir Charles had fit so cleverly inside one. 'The old fool,' he scoffed, but it was not such a foolish idea, that. Using his own creations against him.

He ran a finger over the holographic image of one of the little techbots, its sides a shiny turquoise. He was much too large to squeeze into that.

He sighed. For once, he regretted his vanity, his insistence to grow into this shape of the divine, perfect circle.

'Even if I were skinny, I could not fit into that...' His sour eyes swept the bot. Height was against him here.

To hide. To Run. For killing was desired, but a botch on Nagus's life would mean pain beyond the limits of his body, and mind.

So he'd do the safe thing then.

'Run. Run like hell.'

*

An hour later, the skies outside were black. The throne room was similarly dark. Only a few pools of gold glimmered from lights turned on the lowest setting.

Robotnik paced in the shadows. His eyes were two pinpoints of red in the gloom; his footsteps were loud and echoed. He let out a sigh, and the walls threw it back.

He tried a tentative 'Mobius is mine', and it cascaded around him, whispering like ghosts of his victims.

He shivered, pacing faster to ward off the chill. Voices could never haunt him; no amount of screaming Mobians could infuse him with regret or remorse.

No, he would not pity them, and he would not join them. He would kill Nagus, somehow. Sometime. But first...

'First I will escape and then...'

...Slave.

'I will escape and no longer be a...'

"Slave."

Lost in his grandiose thoughts, his ears barely heard that voice hissing, rancid like dead meat. He tried to block it out.

Slave. Slave. Slave. "Slave!"

'I will no longer be a...'

"SLAVE!" that voice rose to a roar. It seemed to tremble the floor, hurting in the marrow of his bones. He whirled around, seeing Nagus's face on the monitor, his ember-colored eyes smoldering.

"Yes..." Robotnik had to clear his throat, knock away the sudden fright. Disgusted, because he'd never been easily scared. Until now... "...master?"

The wizard regarded him silently. Robotnik fought back the urge to scowl. Nagus was always staring, staring, staring.

So he stared back. But meeting the wizard's eyes was something Robotnik couldn't do for very long. He eyed the room behind Nagus instead. It appeared to be his lab, the one by the bay, and it was disarrayed and full of crates. The wizard was vacating, apparently.

Nagus noticed his eyes flitting. "Yes, attentive one, I am moving to a different location."

"To where, Master?"

"Oh, *curious* as well!" said Nagus snidely. "To another place... a safe place where the beasties won't know."

'For now,' thought Robotnik, a sullen gleam in his eyes. The Freedom Fighters always found out secrets with their prying spies and mistress Luck who always seemed to be on their damn side.

But who cared. He was leaving anyway. Let Nagus deal with it. Maybe they would destroy him, make his job easier.

A slight smile touched his face. Nagus's eyes flared up, like snakes rearing to strike.

"You find something amusing, slave?!"

"N-no!"

"Nor do I..." The wizard smiled evilly. "Although I am a comedic person. I could show you something quite amusing if you'd like!"

"No...no, master." Robotnik began to shake. Nagus had a sense of humor alright, one that laughed mercilessly at Robotnik's suffering. Even now the wizard chuckled at his quivering. He tried to redirect the subject.

"When are you moving, master?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Robotnik closed his eyes. He wished Nagus wouldn't wait.

"I will want an escort of metal men. But discreetly escorting, slave, discreetly..."

If there was such a thing as a discreet escort.

The freedom fighters would notice. They would know. They would sabotage. And he...

"...and if you fail to protect my convoy, slave, I must say, I won't be amused by that."

The fat man gulped.

"It will be discreet and protected, master! I assure you..."

**

The stars twinkled like lights in mother's eyes.

They were stuck on the night, they were mated in a sense, such beauty paired with black as deep and frightening as...

'You're a failure, Snively...

I wish I could be there to watch you die.'

...daddy....but why was he wasting thoughts on this?

Snively slouched against the wall, eyes half-closed and staring bleakly through the small jailhouse window.

'I am going to die tomorrow. Let me think of something good. Please. Please let me...'

From outside a warm breeze blew in the smell of lilacs. His eyelids slid closed, his head lolled onto his shoulder. Eyelashes were wet, his cheeks...he licked his tongue out, tasting the dripping salt.

The air smelled so good.

They would take it away from him tomorrow.

They would steal his air.

He wouldn't smell it again, he wouldn't feel the wind on his face, he wouldn't taste...

'But I won't hurt...' his mind offered feeble comfort.

Outside, standing guard but not particularly alert, were Antoine and one of Geoffrey's MPs, Tory.

Antoine had his sword in one hand; he was polishing it with a soft cloth. Tory was yawning. Antoine looked over.

"You are having something stuck in your teethes."

"Huh?" Tory stared at Antoine.

"In your teethes." Ant made a motion towards his mouth.

"Aw. Yeah." The badger picked at his pearly yellows with a claw.

The French fox sighed. "I am not knowing why eet ees necessary to be standing here."

"We're guarding, duh."

"He cannot escape."

"Yeah, maybe not..." The badger succeeded in getting the black speck off his teeth. "But it ain't gonna look good if no one guards him."

They were quiet for a while. Antoine put his sword away. Inside the jail they could hear the soft sound of feet pacing.

"I bet yer glad he's outta here," Tory said, giving An