Chapter Text
*Sally looks up the dirt road at the hangar in the distance, it’s lights visible even from the mile or so that separates it from her vehicle. Currently, she wore some loose black cargo pants, a long sleeve white shirt, and an unfastened blue vest. Looking to her left, she sees Rosie staring at the road, focused on her driving*
Sally: Thanks for taking me out here, Rosie. I really appreciate it.
Rosie (turning to smile at her): Of course, dearie, not a problem. Will you be needing a ride home?
Sally: Maybe. I’ll see if Sonic and Tails can take me.
Rosie: What’s all this business about that robot again?
Nicole (speaking up from where she rests in Sally’s lap): We’re attempting to ask him for clues. We think someone else was helping him.
Rosie: Ah. Well, I hope you find something. Just be careful not to get too involved in the dangerous bits, Sally, you know your father and I would be crushed if you were to—
Sally: I’ll be fine, Rosie. Everything should be okay, Tails doesn’t mess around with lab safety.
Rosie: Tails… he’s the one that’s taken an interest in Nicole, right?
Sally: Yeah. He’s apparently making a body for her, however that would work. I don’t think it’s a robot, I haven’t seen any plans or parts around his lab. It’s gotta be something… I really don’t know.
Nicole: It will be truly a wonderful feat, I assure you!
*Rosie stops the car, now in front of the hangar*
Rosie (turning to Sally): Alrighty then. Be safe, call me if anything happens, and good luck trying to crack that robot.
Sally: Thanks, Rosie, I will.
*Rosie leans forwards and kisses Sally on the nose before the latter grabs Nicole and departs the vehicle. She pulls out her phone and rings Sonic as she walks towards the front doors*
Sonic (phone): Hey, Sal. What’s up?
Sally: Hey, Sonic, where is the… door?
Sonic (phone): Oh, one second.
*Soon, Sally sees the front door of the hangar being pushed open by Sonic, aided by a purple walrus wearing goggles. Once the door is open enough for a person to walk through, they stop. The walrus says something to Sonic, to which he gives him a thumbs up. The walrus leaves, and Sonic waves Sally over as she travels towards the building*
Sonic (calling out): Hey, Sal! Thanks for coming out, I’m so sorry about this!
Sally (jogging over): Not a problem! I got all my homework done in study hall, anyway.
Sonic: Are you kidding me, you get a study hall?
Sally (grinning): I’m taking AP classes, so I automatically qualify for one.
Sonic (rolling his eyes jokingly): Of COURSE you are…
*As Sally approaches the hangar, she sees that the interior looks barebones at best. She spies see the hub of generators and sea of wheelable tables, as well as some space heaters attempting to combat the chill of the fall evening. A chill runs through her spine when she sees Metal Sonic strapped to some sort of flatbed, being checked on by the walrus as he goes in between Metal and a ludicrous computer setup*
Sally: …Interesting place you’ve got here.
Sonic: Sorry if it’s a bit sparse, it’s only a temporary setup from what I hear. I dunno what’s planned for the replacement, but hopefully it’s easier to heat and cool, haha.
*Sonic bows Sally inside, and she curtesies with a smile before entering. She looks all around her as she walks, taking in all the oddities of this makeshift workshop*
Sally: Well, this isn’t so bad. It has its charm, I’ll admit.
Sonic (jogging to catch up with her): I promise this is the last time I’ll ask you to come out to a creepy old aircraft hangar to let your ai friend negotiate with a robot that tried to utterly merc me the other day.
Walrus (looking offended): It’s not that… ok, it’s pretty creepy and old but I’m working on it
Sonic: Oh, shoot—Sally, this is Rotor. He’s an old buddy of mine, great with machines. Rote, this is Sal. I met her like three weeks ago and she rules.
*The walrus, Rotor, looks up from his work and gives Sally a good-natured smile that Sally returns. Rotor walks over to Sally and holds his hand out to shake*
Rotor: Hi! I’ve heard good things about you!
Sally: Hi, I’m Sally. And right here is Nicole.
Nicole (still in Sally’s hand): Hello.
*Rotor jumps back in surprise, before chuckling along with Sonic*
Sonic: You never get quite used to it…
Rotor: Scared the bejeezus out of me! Sorry about that, Nicole. Didn’t expect that.
Nicole: Understandable. I’m not exactly the most common sort of entity.
Rotor: Sorry to get right to business, but… may I?
*Rotor holds out his hand. Sally looks Rotor dead in the eyes as she places Nicole into his massive palm*
Sally: Just… please be careful with her.
Rotor (nodding solemnly): Like she was my own creation. *he lifts her up and begins searching for a port* Let’s see… ah, one second. Uh…
*Rotor looks around for somewhere to put Nicole before handing her back to Sally and jogging off through the workshop, leaving Sally alone with Sonic*
Tails (shouting distantly): HI, SALLY!!!
*Sally looks to see Tails standing in a large metal doorway, waving at her. Out of the corner of her eye she can see Rotor rummaging through another wheeled cabinet*
Sally (waving back): HI, TAILS!!!
Tails: CAN IGET YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK?!?! WE HAVE, uh… COKE, PEPSI, SPRITE, FANTA, um…
Sally (cupping her hands around her mouth): JUST A COKE IS FINE!!!
Sonic: I should talk to Tails about getting you one of those earpiece radios…
Sally: I mean, if you want to. I don’t mind shouting a bit, I don’t get to do it very much anyways.
*moments later, Tails flies over to Sonic and Sally, handing the latter a can of Coca Cola*
Sally (taking the soda): Thanks.
Rotor (returning to the group, a few cords in the air): Aha! Got it! Now, let’s get this party started!
*Sally hands Rotor Nicole, then steps back and watches as he plugs a usb-and ac adapter into her and connects them with the computer and a power strip respectively. Setting Nicole down on the cabinet next to his keyboard, he opens the terminal and begins to enter some commands. Sally shifts uneasily, and Sonic notices*
Sonic (concerned): Are you doing ok?
Sally: Yeah, just… what happens if he DOES get reactivated?
Tails: Between me, Sonic, heck even Rotor, we should be able to take him down pretty easily. He’s fairly damaged as-is too. And even the , with both Nicole and Rotor helming this, it’s very unlikely that will even happen.
Rotor: Alright, Nicole, you should be all set. Time to work your magic.
To Be Continued…