"Identified," the Swatbot rasped in a synthesized voice, "intruder."

Sally could only gape in shock as she stared down the barrel of a laser rifle centered at her head.

She certainly hoped the others were having better luck than her. Squeezing her eyes shut, unable to gather her wits, she sat paralyzed.

The robot shifted, squeezing the trigger of its firearm. "Termina-"

The princess threw her arms up to protect against a veiling of sparks raining down from her executioner. Scooting to the side with saucer wide eyes, the enemy's head plopped down next to her with a vacant *clunk*. The squirrel dove back under the truck as the rest of the robot collapsed over her (or rather, the unsuspecting vehicle door). What the...?

Eyes roving the area, she noticed a drastically increased number of robots then had been present mere seconds before. What was even more surprising was the number of them toppling over. It was like watching some fantastic game of stacked dominos, metal units deactivating in colliding rows. She couldn't see what was causing it though, the bed of the rig she crouched under blocking her view. Peaking out a little farther, despite the laser fire launching off randomly from decapitated security, Sally tried to snatch a glimpse at what was happening.

In less than a second, what looked like a Mobian jumped onto the rifle of a Swatbot, shot out the bearer's head, and zipped off down an alleyway. Sally stooped, frozen. Only one Mobian could ever move that fast... but wasn't Sonic dead...!?

Slitting his eyes, Tails glared down at the little mouser. 'I have'ta get out, I've just got to!' he thought determined as, in one blind motion, he grabbed a power ring from his belt pouch and worked his tails as fast as they would go. The ring he held onto for dear life radiated a soft, steadily growing glow as his whirling tails accelerated into a blur, the mouse and three similar units who had arrived to support it were blasted back down the duct, clanking off every wall and out of sight. The young fox breathed a sigh of relief as he bolted forward.

He let out a "Yipe!" of surprise as a shot grazed past him from a side duct; a laser equipped lizard rearing its head. "Oh no! I've gotta move!" he cried to himself while scampering further down the boxed in corridor.

Singed holes were punched into the metal walling just behind Tails as he turned a corner, skipping a heart beat or two as he swished his leg out of a shots' way just in time.

Right, left, left again, down two detour branches- the laser blasting robots were right behind him!

He would've jumped for joy upon seeing the exit had he had the room in the tight shaft. It was a wonder he hadn't been hit in the small confines of the ducts- Maybe the targeting system of the tiny robots was just that bad? Tumbling out onto the ground, he swiftly dashed up and behind a stack of crates, panting heavily. He felt like he'd just run ten miles at top speed! What a rush! 'Now then...' he thought, 'are they following me...?' He swallowed, working up the courage to sneak a peek. Craning his head around the side of his cover, his eyes widened at what he saw.

Once again, the red lights flashed all around him in a flurry of crimson shadow.

"WHAT NOW!?" Robotnik roared in a mad rage that matched the tinted room's hue.

Punching a button on a nearby control panel, all emergency display monitors sprang to life in as irritated a mood as their controller.

Reactor 54X9 was under attack! In fact, judging by the smoldering column of the security video feed, it was literally destroyed! There wasn't a Mobian in sight, either! "Curse you wretched Freedom Fighters!" Robotnik blustered in a fit of rage. "I manage an entire industrial city in hopes of cleaning this filthy world, and actions like this is how I'm repaid!? Blast those annoying rebels!" He knew he should have implemented more security at that post, but he'd diverted them to searching for that blasted 'hedgehog' skirting about the area. "Damn ironic coincidence." he muttered to himself, punching up a comm link.

"Snively!"

Static broke moments later with, "Yes, your lordship?"

"Get down to the new reactor- hurry! It's under attack!"

"Certainly, doctor!" came the eager reply before cutting out.

Slamming a fist down to cut his own signal, Robotnik crossed his arms under his chin and leaned forward, watching various battles raging over several televisions in separate blocks of his city. "One day I'll get you all... convert you into my loyal slaves! Then we'll see just how opposed to my ambitions you'll be! I'll- what's this?" He cut himself short, peering more carefully at a particular live action feed. A broad grin burst across his malicious features. "Why Princess Sally, what a shame you seem to be all alone on the loading flat. It would certainly be regretful if you were to get lonely all by yourself..." An unheard laugh of diabolical glee rang through a wing of the control center.

Antoine huddled up into himself behind a quickly dissipating barrel. His cover was blasted away chunk by chuck from vicious shots taken by Swatbots in quick succession. "Wat 'ave I evar done!?" he balled miserably before yipping as a shot clipped his fur.

"Shut up an' DO somethin' fer cryin' out loud!" Bunny roared across the courtyard at him. She was in no better a position herself, desperately glancing around for a way out. Unlike her partner, she had no cover other than the building corner she'd ducked behind. Her ears flopped around wildly in concentration. Scanning the ground, there was nothing for her to use: a short pole, a chain, a grid weave cage... What was she supposed to do? Hit the Swatbot's ankles?

Shaking her head, she broadened her field of search. Her eyes brightened as she got an idea.

Hanging a tight arch around the corner of the building, two robots stopped cold in their tracks. There before them stood... nothing. It was a dead end alleyway; there was no place the rebel could have gone. Except...

Loading the information on the clich� tactic too slowly, Bunny gained an edge of surprise by leaping down on the unsuspecting enemy, pole and chain in hand.

"Yeeeehaw!" she cried, landing on the shoulders of a bot from above. Quickly she rammed the short pole through its viewing visor, employing the force of her downward vault. Nimbly she jumped to the other, forcing the chain into the seam between the things' head and torso. Yanking as hard as her robotic limbs could manage, she wrenched its head partially off. Torn wires and circuits spitting obscenely, the robot toppled backwards. Extending her arms and legs, Bunny again grabbed the overhang fire escape ladder of the building to her back. Retracting her limbs to their normal length, she climbed, ignoring the flailing pieces of scrap she'd left behind.

"Pieces'a junk." she grumbled.

Hopping over to the edge of the roof, she peered over to see Swatbots surrounding her position and Antoine cowering on the other side of the courtyard, under cover and under fire. Bunny cursed to herself, how much worse could this get? A volley of shots zinged past her head as she hit the floor. "Grand."

"Bunny!" Antoine bawled. "Zave me! I am too young to- EEK!"

"DO something ya flat tailed twit!"

Snively was stomping around in a fit. "Why wont you both just roll over and die!"

"I'm a bit busy, Antoine!" Bunny's mind raced faster as the units closed in on her. "Okay, what'm I gonna do?" Dashing across the roofing, she sailed over an alleyway to the next building over, keeping up the trend as she cleared her way around the courtyard. She hoped a stray shot wouldn't catch her.

Making made it to the opposite edge of the cleared pavement pool, she zeroed in on the enemy units exact positions. Diving headlong off the top of a stout structure, she caught a street lamp, slid down the pole, and was behind Snively before he knew where the slick rabbit was.

Bunny smirked- the look of shock plastered on his face was worth her stunt.

Rushing the short malicious subordinate of Robotnik, she ringed an arm around his neck and held him fast in a tight headlock. Bracing against his squirming, Bunny narrowed her eyes and constricted her grasp. "Listen up'ya filthy rattler! Either call off yer troops or I take'ya down with me! Understand, hun?"

Nodding vigorously, the lithe little man choked out over his remote, "All forces... desist! I... Agh! Throat, you're... crushing..!"

Snively was released with a sigh as the Swatbots stood to attention as opposed to riddling Antoine's general area with random shots. Grabbing Snively by the scruff of the neck, forcing him to drop the controller, Bunny dragged him over to the French fox. They found him huddled quavering with his head between his knees.

"Antoine? Antoine!" the rabbit poked at him with a foot.

He near jumped out of his skin as he bolted up with a start. "Bunny! Oh Bunny, you 'ave saved me! I owe you all thanks pozible for me to give an' more! By ze honor of my rank..." the fox rambled.

As Bunny tried to slap off Antoines' enthused hand shaking, Snively saw his chance! Crawling away, pressing himself to the ground, he smirked at his stealthy tact. Those idiot rebels! Sniggering as he reached the remote control for his unit, he stood triumphantly laughing in mock at the resistance members. "Hahahaha! You thought you could do away with me that easily? Heehee! You stupid animals!"

"...Zis iz my fault, no?"

"Yes, 'Twan. Yes it is."

Snively clicked the remote button, "Kill them! Kill them both!"

The two Mobians sprang off like bats out of hell before the order was finished, Bunny's cursing at Antoine being drowned out by the weapons fire.