On My Mother's Grave [Part Two]
A Sonic the Hedgehog story
Written by Kris Kelley.  Story by Kris Kelley and Craig Fox.

This story is protected by copyright laws.  Feel free to distribute this story, 
but the authors do not allow any unauthorized alteration of the story or 
distribution for profit.

     "No, no, Antoine!  Like this!"
     Todd demonstrated the kick yet again as Tolouse and Tails looked on.  Then,
again, Antoine tried to mimic it, with disastrous results.
     Tails giggled and Tolouse shook his head and chuckled as Antoine picked 
himself up from having fallen over.  Again.
     "Zat was better, yes?" Antoine asked.
     "Uh...  Maybe we should try something else," Todd suggested.
     "No no really, I am wanting to learn zis.  Here, I try again."
     Tolouse helped Antoine back up from another attempt.  "Yeah, let's do 
something else..."
     It had been two weeks since Todd had first arrived in Knothole, and in that
time, he had made himself at home.  Perhaps it was because they were all foxes, 
or perhaps it was because their histories were similar, each having lost family 
to the forces of Robotropolis, but in that time, Todd, Tails, and Tolouse had 
become good friends.  Now, they were out on a camping trip, deep within the 
forest and quite a distance from Knothole.  Antoine had come with them as well.
     "Why not?" Tolouse had said.  "The poor fox is lonely.  Besides, we could 
use the entertainment."  The others had laughed in agreement.
     Todd was showing off his skills again.  He whirled around, and a nearby 
tree branch was splintered by a kick.
     "Cool!" Tails said in awe, and the others were equally impressed.
     None of them noticed a small device hovering behind them in the darkness.

     "Sir, rebel freedom fighters have been sighted," the Swat-Bot stated. 
     Packbell looked at the screen and chuckled.  "Excellent!  That is the one 
we are looking for."  All but ignoring Todd's show, he focused the spy-bot's 
camera on Tails and smiled.  Tonight, he would set his plan into action.  And to
kidnap him out from underneath the noses of three of his friends, he thought in 
anticipation.  How will they be able to live with themselves, knowing that poor,
poor Tails was taken from right in front of them, and then killed for all of 
them to see?
     It's an easy question.  They won't.
     Not as long as I have anything to do with it.
     "Swat-bots, start with the preparations for our guest.  Then let me know 
when our campers have fallen asleep."
     "Yes, Commander," was the automatic reply.

* * *

    An android hand slipped quickly over his muzzle, and before Tails was even 
fully awake, he felt himself being carried off into the night.  He tried to 
scream, but no sound could emerge from his closed mouth.  He soon felt something
that was all too familiar:  the clamp of a Swat-Bot's metallic hand.
     "Keep him quiet until we have left the area."
     Tails squirmed helplessly in the Swat-Bot's grip as Packbell's hovercraft 
left the area, the engines as quiet as Packbell could make them.

     Back at the campsite, the remaining three foxes slept on.

* * *

     "Tolouse, Antoine, wake up!  He's gone!"  Todd was near panic.
     Tolouse struggled to clear the haze of sleep from his head.  "Who?"
     "Tails!  He's gone!  I can't find him!"
     Sleep was winning the battle.  "He probably just went into the woods."
     "No, he hasn't.  He's gone!  Look at this!"  Todd handed Tolouse a pad that
he had found where Tails had been sleeping.  Tolouse slowly managed to focus his
eyes...and they flew open wide when he did.

     Attention Freedom Fighters:

     If you want to see your friend alive again, you will come to the old
     Museum of Arts building by the end of the day.

     Sincerely: Commander Packbell

     Tolouse quickly got up.  "Okay, let's get back to Knothole and tell the 
others."
     Todd shook his head.  "No way.  I'm going after him!"
     "Do what?"
     "I know where that building is, I remember seeing it when I was in the 
city.  I'm going now!"
     "Todd, wait!  Sonic will be able to get us there much faster, and he and 
Sally need to know about this!"
     "Fine, you tell them, but I know if I start now, I can make it there in 
plenty of time."   He took off into the woods, at a sprint that Tolouse knew he 
wouldn't have been able to keep up with.
     "Todd!" he shouted, but the fox kept running, and was soon out of sight in 
the dense forest.  Tolouse sighed, but he knew what he had to do.  If they were 
lucky, they could make it back to Knothole before the sun was too high.  
"Antoine, wake up!"


     Tolouse didn't even bother knocking.  Sally nearly dropped Nicole in 
surprise as he burst into her hut.
     "Tolouse, what in the---?"
     "Tails is gone!  Packbell took him!  Look at this!"  He handed the pad to 
Sally.
     She read it.  "Oh no.  Where's Todd and Antoine?"
     "Antoine's back at his hut.  Todd...  He went after them."
     "He did?"
     "There was nothing I could do!  He said he knew where the building was and 
then he took off before I could stop him."
     Sally rubbed her forehead.  "This is *not* good.  Okay, go get Sonic.  We 
must act quickly."
     Sonic was soon there, and the three worked out a plan.  Sonic gave his 
usual suggestion.  "I say we go bust him out now!"
     "Sonic, you don't have any power rings, remember?  You used them in your 
little show yesterday, and the next one's not for another three hours!"
     "I can run fast enough without 'em, and we need every second we got!  No 
telling what Packbell will do if he sees Todd alone!"
     Sally had to admit Sonic was right.  "Okay then, we should get going."
     Sonic shook his head.  "You're staying here, Sal."
     "I beg your pardon?"
     "Look, this isn't some carefully planned mission.  It's gonna be dangerous 
and I don't want you getting hurt.  Let me handle 'im like only I know how."
     Sally thought and again admitted to herself that Sonic had a point.  They 
shouldn't risk both of their lives on this one.  "Okay, but you're not going 
alone.  I suggest that you take Bunnie with you."
     "Bunnie's sick, remember?  She got a cold."
     Sally rubbed her forehead again.  This was looking worse with each passing 
minute.  "Alright.  Tolouse, will you go?"
     Tolouse had little desire to face Packbell again, but he would not hesitate
to help Tails or Todd.  "Of course."
     "Good.  Okay, get going!"
     "C'mon, Tolly!  Let's juice!"
     Sally watched from her doorway as the blue streak melted into the woods.  I
don't know why, she thought, but I have a bad feeling about this.

* * *

     Todd tore through the woods, his years spent on the run allowing him to 
keep up a brisk pace.  As he ran, his mind was also in high gear.  There were 
many memories: his home, his mother, the years spent with Sebastian and the 
others, and finally, his time at Knothole.  It seemed that at the end of each 
happy memory, there was a traumatic one waiting to be relived, and in every one,
Robotnik or Packbell played a central part.  There had been many times like 
this, when the memories played themselves out, and each time, Todd's hatred of 
Robotnik and Packbell had grown, and not a day had gone by that he didn't dream 
of making them pay for what they had done -- by any means, at any cost.  Had 
Sally and the others known just how immense this hatred had become, they would 
certainly have worried about him.  It is sometimes impossible to tell just how 
far one will go when all other goals, all other thoughts have been tuned out, 
save one.
     This time was different, though, for he had not one goal, but two.  Tails 
was his friend.  He considered the young two-tailed fox to be one of the closest
friends he'd ever had.  Packbell's going to pay for ever even thinking of 
kidnapping him! he thought.  Todd would stop at nothing (NOTHING!) to make sure 
that no harm came to Tails, and that Packbell would suffer for what he'd done.
     Packbell, I swear to you, on my mother's grave, you WILL NOT GET AWAY THIS 
TIME!
     He pushed himself harder, running as fast as he could.  Finally, he found 
himself outside what used to be the Mobotropolis Museum of Arts.  He was the 
first to arrive.

     Tails shivered in silent fear, wavering in and out of consciousness, as 
Packbell busied himself at a portable terminal, making sure that his other 
duties were taken care of and that he would not be missed while his plan was 
being carried out.  They were in the main display hall, where the works of 
Mobius's legendary artists had once resided.  The museum had been neglected 
during the time of the Great War, and one of King Acorn's hopes had been to have
the museum restored back to its full glory when the war ended.  Robotnik, of 
course, had had other ideas when he staged his coup, and now the building was 
just one among many others, decaying and forgotten in the outskirts of the city,
far away from the main activity of Robotnik's factories.  Which, of course, made
it an excellent place for Packbell to carry out his plan without any worry of 
Robotnik interfering.
     Packbell checked the status of his projects, as well as the of the 
rebuilding of the coolant treatment plant.  Good, everything is on schedule, he 
thought.  By this time next week the plant will be operational again, and I can 
finally turn my attention to---
     "Packbell!"  A voice broke the silence.
     Packbell turned around and saw a lone fox standing in the distance 
entryway.  He casually stood up and picked up his laser rifle as he said, "And 
who are you?"
     "You should remember me, Packbell, after what you and Robotnik did to me.  
And my mother!"
     Packbell, of course, had every face that he had ever enountered memorized, 
but even for an android it is easier to recall some faces more than others, and 
he didn't feel the need to waste time scanning his memory for this particular 
one.  "Spare me the bad monologues and tell me why you are here, and I might let
you live that much longer."
     "I have come for my friend Tails and to make sure that you are never able 
to pull anything like this again."
     Only one fox, and not one of the main Freedom Fighters at that?  This was 
not the rescue party Packbell had figured on.  Perhaps the others were on their 
way, and for whatever reason this one decided to strive ahead.  Personal 
vendetta, maybe.  Packbell chuckled to himself.  There's one in every crowd, and
they all got what they deserved eventually.  Now, however, was not the time.  
Holding the rifle with both hands, he said, "I'm afraid that you are a little 
more than helpless to retrieve your friend here.  As you can see, he is quite 
restrained and any motion towards him or me will be quite painful, I can assure 
you.  Now, run along and make sure your friends are here by sundown, or there 
will be no hope of rescuing him."
     This quick dismissal was certainly not what Todd had expected, and his 
anger began to boil, consuming him.  "NO!!  I will NOT be ignored so easily, do 
you hear me?!"
     Packbell, now irritated, turned back around.  "Did you not understand me?  
Get out of my sight!"
     "You will face me, NOW!  You owe me that much for all the misery you have 
caused me!"
     Something about this one, Packbell thought.  He's different.  So, he 
scanned his mind, and eventually came across the memory of a young kit during 
the time of the initial coup.  He gave Todd a chilling grin.  "Ah, now I 
remember you, and I must admit I am impressed that you are still alive.  You 
know, I have to tell you it was a lovely sight seeing Dr. Robotnik deal with 
your mother the way he did.  Seldom does he get that involved in dealing with 
prisoners, and it is always a pleasure watching him when he does."
     Todd trembled.  "Shut up!  I swear you will pay for that!"
     Packbell sneered.  "I told you to spare me the speeches.  I can easily 
guess what you're here for."  Packbell then thought for a moment.  "But can you 
imagine what I am here for?  Have you stopped to think about why I kidnapped 
your young friend here when I could just as easily have taken any or all of you 
last night?"
     Todd refused to listen.  "All I know is you are not going to get away with 
it!"
     Packbell chuckled.  "Oh, I think I will.  Let me tell you my plan..."

     Meanwhile, two more figures had slipped quietly into the display hall, from
an entranceway on the opposite side of the room.
     "There they are," Tolouse whispered.  "And look, there's Tails!"  He 
pointed to where the unconscious fox sat tied to his chair.
     Sonic looked.  "Packbell's got his back to us, and it sounds like he's 
bending Todd's ear.  C'mon!"
     "Where're we going?"
     "We're gonna get Tails out of there super fast.  Then we'll get Todd and 
blow this hole."
     The two crept stealthily over to Tails and began working on his restraints.
Much too close for comfort, Packbell continued detailing his plan to Todd.

     "...You see, far more times than I would care to remember, your precious 
Freedom Fighters have succeeded in their plans, resulting in their continued 
existence as well as the destruction of much of Robotnik's property.  I began 
looking for ways end their luck, and I believe I have found one.  What do you 
think would happen to the Freedom Fighters if they witnessed both the kidnapping
and..." he paused, chuckling, "...the killing of one of their closest and 
youngest friends, right in front of them, while they were utterly helpless to do
anything about it?"
     Todd shuddered.  "You would really... just to see how they would react?  
They would do everything they could to destroy you!"
     Packbell chuckled.  "I think not.  Why, to have their free-spirited friend 
here *crushed* before their very eyes?  How would they sleep at night?  How 
would they be able to look at themselves in the mirror?"  He took a step towards
Todd.  "And, how would they fight?"
     "You-- I won't let you do this!"
     Packbell chuckled and said with a hideous whisper, "Watch me!"

     Tolouse was sweating bullets.  "Sonic, are you done yet?"
     "One more to go, bud.  Here, help me with this...yeah, that's it.  Now 
pull."
     Tolouse pulled, and the final restraint gave way, but not silently.
     CLICK!!
     Oh, gods...

     Packbell turned, his eyes instantly focusing on the source of the sound, 
and then on Sonic.  "You!"
     Sonic was quickly on his feet.  "Yeah, me.  Who'd you expect, the cleaning 
lady?"
     Packbell was in even less of a mood for Sonic's attitude than normal.  He 
raised the laser rifle.  "I guess I will just have to execute my plan that much 
quicker.  Say goodbye, hedgehog!"
     Sonic prepared to dodge, but he noticed the rifle was not being aimed at 
him.  "Huh?  Now wait a Sonic sec---"
     Tolouse's heart pounded as it looked like the rifle was pointed at him.  
"Oh my---"
     Packbell focused his aim, ready to pull the trigger.
     All thoughts and actions were broken by a scream.  Todd howled as he raced 
across the display hall.

     What happened next took place in much less time than any of those present 
remembered it.

     Tolouse darted sideways, bumping into Sonic.

     Sonic grabbed him and quickly pulled him down behind him, then reached up 
for Tails.

     Packbell hesitated slightly... ever so slightly... before pulling the 
trigger.

     Todd jumped in front of Tails, still howling.

     Packbell pulled the trigger.

     A blinding flash.  Thoughts of panic, wondering if these were the last 
moments.

     The howling stopped.

     When he realized that he was still alive, Tolouse looked up.  "TODD!!"

     Sonic didn't waste anytime at all.  With adrenaline adding to his strength,
he scooped up Tolouse in one arm and Tails in the other, and raced out of the 
display hall before Packbell had another chance to fire.

* * *

     It was several minutes later before any of the participants were thinking 
clearly.  By that time, Sonic was passing the city limits with his two 
occupants.  Tails was easy to carry, as he was still unconscious.  Tolouse was 
another matter.
     "We can't just leave him back there, Sonic!  We can't!"
     "There is nothing we can do," Sonic replied, all hints of his famous 
attitude gone for the moment.  "I'm sorry."
     They moved on, toward their destination of Knothole.

     It was several minutes later before any of the participants, carbon-based 
or otherwise, were thinking clearly.  By that time, Todd was breathing his last 
breaths, and Packbell stood over him, exploding with anger.  Packbell was going 
over the events in his mind, and with each replay, his anger and frustration 
deepened.  He couldn't deny the truth to himself.  He had hesitated.  Todd's 
scream had distracted him, and although he recovered in a slim fraction of a 
second, it had been enough.  It had been enough for Todd to block his shot.  It 
had been enough to allow Tails and the others to escape.
Now here he was, watching the foil of his plan die at his feet, and still not 
getting any satisfaction from it!
     He roughly picked up Todd and was ready to shout at him, to threaten him.  
But what could he say?  'I'll kill you for what you did'?  He was already dying!
All he could think to say was, "Don't think I'll stop here.  Take to your grave 
the knowledge that I will win!  Do you hear me!  I *will* win!"
     But Todd didn't respond to that.  Instead, he mustered all of his remaining
strength to raise his head, look Packbell eye-to-eye, and whisper one last 
sentence, which he did with a smile.
     "I beat you."
     Then his head fell, and Packbell knew there was nothing more he could do or
say to scare or hurt Todd.


     Sonic knocked weakly on Sally's door.
     "Sonic!  What happened?  You okay?"
     "Tails is fine.  We got him back, and Bookshire's looking him over right 
now."
     Sally breathed a huge sigh of relief.  "Oh, that's good to hear.  Are 
Tolouse and Todd okay?"
     Sonic looked down.  "Tolouse is okay.  He's over at Bookshire's, too."
     A cold chill went down Sally's back.  "W-what about Todd?"
     Sonic looked up at her again, silent for a long time.  Finally he spoke, 
his voice even quieter than before.  "Tails is fine," he said again.  "Todd...  
Todd saved his life."  He fell silent again.
     A tear came to Sally's eye.  "Oh, no..."
     Sonic only nodded.

* * *

     Tolouse climbed slowly up the tree, ready to start his turn of sentry duty.
It was late at night, and the sky was both cloudless and moonless, the stars 
proudly displaying themselves without any competition.  When he reached the 
platform, he found Antoine snoring away.  Tolouse decided to let him sleep while
he looked out at the sky.
     Tolouse tried to think, but he couldn't form his thoughts any more 
coherently than he had his words that day, which was to say with any 
comprehension.  His mind recycled the same scenes over and over from the past 
couple of days: the... "event" itself, coming home, explaining to Sally, 
Bookshire and the others what had happened, the little memorial service they had
had for Todd, his feeble attempt at saying something at the service...  Finally,
his mind pushed out one clear thought, and he sighed, looking at the stars.

     Goodbye, Todd.

* * *

     ..."MOMMY!!"...

     And the pain was finally gone.

The End.