A Line Crossed

A Line Crossed: Chapter 1

“Alone”

By BSUGrad

Author’s Note: Yes, this story has likely been done to
death, but since when do Sonic Fanfic writers care
about that?  Or about anything for that
matter.  Just kidding, sweet as can
be.  But this story shall become a bit
rougher as we go on.  Just a set up for
the moment.

It is also of note that I am a poor college grad in a shitty
economy so I have to state that none of the characters below are mine.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   If they were, the poor aspect would not
exist.

Down the passage of a sewer line for generic waste, a sound
of splashing could be heard.  Now, this
place was not toxic, but it sure as hell smelled that way.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Soon the splashing makes out to be footfalls
in the side of the place, more water than anything else where the canal in the
middle was the bad area.  A female form
could be made out under the dimmed overhead lights.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Each one softly flickered as the flow of
energy was taken from a nearby building to complete a task.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  A shadow becomes visible as it enters the
light, brown fur rustling under red hair. 
Her pace is a hurried one while determined eyes look down at a readout
from a handheld computer before she looks up, “Seven…Eight…”

Each of the numbers corresponds with a manhole that rests
above a ladder used to reach it. 
Finally, at the tenth number called out, she skids to a stop, sending a
small splash of water to the left of her feet. 
“Nicole, confirm I am under the outer reaches of Robotropolis…”style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  A momentary series of beeps later and it
responds, ~Location Confirmed, Sally.  No
patrols currently overhead.~  Well, at
least that buys her a bit of time for this escape.

As the Princess of the Kingdom Acorn climbs the ladder, she
sighs and finally realizes just how much her muscles have been aching since she
started running.  Everything back in the
city went south fast.  It was just a trip
to get batteries.  This was a trip that
was made plenty of times before and without incident.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  But it seems that through inventory,
something was revealed and they were sent straight into a trap this time.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  The initial blast scattered the four of them
from each other.  From that point on, it
was up to each person to find their way out and report back to Knothole.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Unfortunately for Sally, this meant the
closest path was through the sewer system. 
The only good part was that since Robotnik had
long since realized they didn’t regularly utilize this way, only the inner city
was monitored for activity in the waste system.

A light grunt before the manhole cover is raised up
slightly, looking at the city from the outskirts through the crack before
another grunt is uttered to lift the large object from it’s
resting spot and to the ground beside it. 
Climbing out, she quickly places it back in and winces at the condition
of her boots.  That’s going to take a
while to come out.  And likely someone
back home with a sense of humor too big for their own good will make a comment
about foot odor.  Shaking her head, Sally
makes for the forest’s edge from here, still running to make sure she can make
it out fine.  This, even though her
muscles in her legs begin to burn with rebellion from the constant pace kept as
well as the ones beneath that flicking tail.

Only when she is at the edge of the forest does she put her
back against a tree and slide down it with a huff when her butt hits the
dirt.  Brushing her vest off, she puts
the back of her head against the tree while she thinks about what
happened.  A large blast from a class=SpellE>SWATBot slammed into the middle of their group, knocking
them all backwards.  Sonic, as usual,
bought them enough time to get out.  class=SpellE>Bunnie and Antoine were thrown a different direction and
took off in that way.  The princess
smirks as she realizes that Antoine would be the one to worry about and that he
would likely be safe in Bunnie’s hands.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Sonic himself could get himself out of any
jam.  That wasn’t a problem.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  And since she was already back in the forest,
this complete wash of a mission at least had no casualties as of yet.

It was around this time that Nicole emitted a soft sound,
almost like a klaxon as Sally picked up the computer from her vest again;
opening it to reveal the screen stating that a scan had been detected.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “Source of the scan…?”style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Those same beeps revealed that Nicole was in
thought, putting her processing power behind finding which way the beam came
from.  After a few seconds longer than
normal, a confirmation beep was given that the scan was complete, ~Unknown,
Sally.  Scan origin not determined.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Recommend quickest path to Knothole village
to escape further detection.~ 
“Right.  Makes the most sense.”

A map popped up immediately after, showing the shortest path
and her current position with it. 
Committing this to memory, Sally winced as she got up, softly putting a
hand on her hip and massaging the flesh there for a moment, “class=SpellE>Gotta run more around Knothole.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  My endurance is down.”style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  With that note, the athletically built
squirrel gets to running again, following the path laid out for her.