Healing Hearts 2
Chapter Three


Austin whistled as he gazed around the area. “Well, I got to hand it to Snively, he really found himself a nice little getaway.”

The immediate area was a vast sandy beach, with sparkling blue water surrounding the shoreline. Past the shoreline were trees making up a jungle. And right at the very edge of the trees was a cabin. And no doubt Snively was inside.

“So, how do we want to go about doing this,” Austin asked.

“Let's go over and see if he's in,” Sally said.

The two of them made their way across the sandy beach and before long, stood before the cabin. They stood there for a moment, deciding what to do.

“Should we just knock,” Austin asked.

“Well, breaking down the door wouldn't exactly make a good impression,” Sally said. She reached out and rapped on the door. “Snively? Are you in there? It's Princess Sally! I need to speak with you! Please, come out!”

They stood there and waited for a response.

“Maybe he's not in,” Austin surmised after a few moments had passed. “Or if he is, he just doesn't want to talk to us.”

Just as he finished saying that, the door opened and there stood Snively. Sally saw he still looked the same since she had last seen him, albeit slightly tanned.

“Princess Sally,” he said. “I had a feeling you would probably show up at my doorstep sooner or later. You or GUN.”

“You knew GUN was keeping tabs on you,” Austin asked.

“I would have been more surprised if they weren't, considering my former employer,” Snively replied. “I assume that's why you're both here? Have you come to take me in and stand trial or something?”

“Far from it,” Sally said. “If we were here to apprehend you, I can assure you we would have just busted down your door and dragged you out of there. As I said, I need to talk to you.”

“Is that all,” Snively asked, sarcastically. “You came all this way just to chat with me?”

“I didn't come all the way here just for polite conversation,” Sally replied, her tone hard. “I want to know what Robotnik did with my father.”

A look of surprise crossed Snively's face. Clearly he hadn't been expecting that.

“What makes you think I know anything,” Snively said.

“Don't play dumb with me, Snively,” Sally snapped. “You were Robotnik's right-hand man and you were right there with him when he took over. You know something about my father, so don't bother denying it.”

“Alright,” Snively said. “Lets say I do know. Why should I tell you anything?”

“What do you have to lose by telling us,” Austin asked.

“What do I have to gain by telling you,” Snively countered.

Austin bit back an angry retort. It was starting to look like Snively wasn't going to cooperate after all. And that begged the question: What would they do now? Short of threatning him, there really was nothing they could do. They couldn't resort to torture and they certainly weren't going to kill him in cold blood. And no doubt Snively was aware of that fact.

Maybe we should have brought Amy along after all. Or Shade, or even Shadow and his team, he thought.

“What do we have to do to get you to tell us,” Sally asked. “Please, I'll do anything. I just want my father back. Please, tell me where he is!”

Austin knew Sally was on the verge of tears. Information about her father was so close, and yet it seemed like she was getting no closer to obtaining it. She was desperate and it broke his heart to see her like this. He almost considered grabbing Snively and threaten to beat him to within an inch of his life and to hell with the consequences.

Snively sighed. “Oh, stop begging, Princess. It really doesn't suit you. If you really want to know that badly, then I'll tell you.”

“Really,” Sally asked, hope tinging her voice.

“Yes, really,” Snively said. “Mind you, I can't say for certain on what the King's current condition is, but I can at least tell you where he can be found. After Robotnik took over and captured the King, I thought for certain he was going to be roboticized. However, my late uncle had other ideas.”

Austin started! Had he heard that right? Robotnik was Snively's uncle?

“As it is,” Snively continued. “He had discovered a dimension known as the Zone of Silence. It was a pocket dimension he had come across even before he staged his coup. It was a place where he had imprisoned others. Potential troublemakers and such. So he decided it would be the perfect prison for the King. Following that, he began spreading rumors about the King's whereabouts, knowing someday you would no doubt try to find him. As far as I know, he's still trapped there. Whether he's alive or not, I can't say.”

“The Zone of Silence,” Sally mused. “So that's where he is.”

“Where exactly is this place,” Austin asked. “How do we get there?”

“Well, that's where we enter a grey area,” Snively replied. “It doesn't have a fixed location. In order to access it, you would need two things. First, a device that can open doorways to other zones. And, second, you would need the dimensional coordinates of the zone. What's more, there's a bit of a problem when it comes to this particular zone. Getting in is easy, but getting out is the real problem. Even if you have someone manning the machine and keep it on, the vortex flows one way. In other words, if you wanted to get back out, you would probably need to tie off some strong tethers on the outside and be pulled back out.”

“Of course,” Austin said. “Why make things easy?”

“Where can we find this machine and the coordinates,” Sally asked.

“The coordinates were on Robotnik's files in Robotropolis,” Snively replied. “The machine itself was also there in his lab. Of course, that was before you reduced it to molten slag.”

“Oh. Oh, dear,” Sally said.

“Maybe we should have held off on that,” Austin lamented.

“Don't worry,” Snively said. “All is not lost. Wait here a moment.”

He turned and entered the cabin, leaving Austin and Sally alone on the beach.

“Was everything he said just now true,” Sally asked.

Austin nodded. “Yeah. He was telling the truth. Though I don't know how much we can trust him. He could still try something.”

“If it means rescuing my father, I'm willing to take the risk,” Sally said.

“I understand,” Austin said. “I'd do the same if it was my own father. Still, lets be on our guard. By the way, I had no idea Snively was Robotnik's nephew.”

“I sometimes forget that myself,” Sally said. “Though I'm sure he likes to forget that fact, too.”

At that moment, Snively exited the cabin and presented a disk to Sally.

“Before I abandoned Robotropolis, I helped myself to some of Robotnik's files,” he explained. “I had the proper codes to decrypt and access them. On one of the files I found coordinates to several different zones and dimensions. Seems the late Doctor was planning to expand his rule across the multiverse. One set of coordinates was to the Zone of Silence. This disk holds those coordinates, as well as blueprints to build the machine to use them.”

“And you're just giving it to us,” Sally asked incredulously. “What's the catch?”

“I just want you to go and leave me in peace,” Snively replied. “So take it and be on your way.” He turned back to the cabin.

“Hold it,” Austin said, grabbing him by the shoulder. “What other files did you access? What was on them?”

“That is my own business,” Snively replied.

“Are they plans for a weapon or something,” Austin said, ignoring Snively's remark. “Are you thinking about taking Robotnik's place to conquer Mobius?”

“Perhaps a long time ago I would have tried,” Snively said. “But after seeing what you and your companions are capable of, I'd just as soon avoid all of that.”

Austin's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Though Snively was telling the truth, he still didn't like the idea of him having access to possibly dangerous secrets and weapons.

“Let him go, Austin,” Sally said. “I'm sure he'll behave himself.” She turned a glare at Snively. “Just remember, though, Snively. GUN is keeping an eye on you. If you step out of line, they will come for you.”

“And if they don't get you, I will,” Austin promised, releasing Snively.

“Yes, yes, I get it,” Snively said. “If you're done threatning me, kindly depart now.”

“Let's go, Austin,” Sally said, pulling out the warp ring.

She tossed the ring into the air and it expanded in size, revealing GUN headquarters on the other size. Sally entered the ring, followed by Austin. The ring then shrank and disappeared from sight.

“Finally. I thought they'd never leave,” Snively said. “Don't worry, Princess. I'll behave myself...for now anyway.” With that, he turned and entered his cabin.



Shadow watched as Austin and Sally passed through the ring, returning to Tower's office at GUN HQ. The ring collapsed back down to it's original size.

“Welcome back,” Rouge greeted. “So, how'd it go? Did the little troll talk or not?”

“He talked alright,” Sally said. “It seems my father is currently imprisoned in some place called the Zone of Silence.”

“I've never heard of such a place,” Shadow commented. “Where is it exactly?”

“The only way to get there is with a machine that can open portals to zones,” Sally said. She held up the disk Snively had given her. “This disk holds plans that could allow us to build the machine. It also has the coordinates to get to the Zone of Silence.”

“Snively actually gave you that,” Rouge asked. “Just like that? No questions asked?”

“Oh, I doubt he did it out of the goodness of his heart,” Sally replied. “But he was on the level with us. At least, I'm pretty sure he was.”

“Are you sure you can trust what's on that disk, Sally,” Rouge said. “For all you know it could be booby-trapped. I wouldn't put it past Snively to pull a stunt like that.”

“The thought did cross my mind, Rouge,” Sally said. “But what other choice do I have? If this can get me to my father, then I have to take that risk.”

“So how do you plan to build this machine, Princess,” Tower spoke up. “Do you have the resources and materials necessary to do so?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Sally said. “And we still have another problem. Even if we get the machine built and running, there's the matter of getting in and then getting out of the zone. According to Snively, the portal goes one way. We'd need some way to get back out once we're in.”

“Sheesh. One thing after another, huh, Sal,” Rouge commented.

“Commander,” Shadow said. “GUN has the necessary materials to build the machine, doesn't it?”

“I believe so,” Tower replied. “Are you suggesting we build this machine, Shadow?”

“Well, yes,” Shadow said. “Sally needs a way to get to her father. I don't see why we can't help her.”

“Aww, Shadow,” Rouge cooed. “That's so sweet offering to help like that.”

“Ahem. Well, it's the right thing to do,” Shadow said, blushing slightly.

“Hmm. Well, I suppose we could,” Tower mused. “It may take a little time, even if I have our best scientists working round the clock. But it should be possible. In the meantime, Princess, I wonder if you and Austin might be willing to do me a favor in return.”

“I suppose,” Sally replied. “What exactly did you have in mind for us?”

“In two days, I'll be sending Team Dark, as well as a squadron of soldiers to take down another outpost,” Tower said. “I would like you two to accompany them there and help them take the outpost down.”

“Why send us,” Austin asked. “I'm pretty sure Shadow and his team would be more than enough to handle it.”

“The reason I'm sending you, is because this particular outpost is the biggest and most heavily fortified one yet,” Tower explained. “It has heavy artillery, drones, tanks and a platoon of Swat Bots, armed and dangerous.”

“That bad, huh,” Sally remarked.

“He's not exaggerating,” Shadow said. “Rouge, Omega and I tried it ourselves a while back. We couldn't even get near the main entrance. We had no choice but to withdraw and plan out a new strategy.”

“But with a squadron of highly trained soldiers and you two backing us up, I think we may stand a chance this time around,” Rouge said.

Austin glanced at Sally. “It's your call, Sally. I'll trust your judgement.”

Sally thought it over and then nodded. “Alright, Commander. You build the machine for us, and we'll help take down this outpost.”

“Very well,” Tower said. “I'll get our science department on it right away.”

“Here. Your science team will need this,” Sally said, handing over the disk. “Both the blue prints and coordinates are on there.”

“I'll get this disk to them right away,” Tower said. “Now then, Shadow will show you to the briefing room where you'll meet the squadron and the commanding officer. He'll inform you two on everything you need to know.”

“If you'll follow me,” Shadow said, beckoning them towards the door.

Team Dark, along with Austin and Sally exited Tower's office. Turning to the monitor behind him, Tower activated it, and a scientist decked out in a lab coat appeared on the screen.

“Professor,” Tower greeted the man. “It's Tower. Clear your schedule. I have a new project for you to work on.” He held up the disk. “And I think you'll find this to be an interesting challenge.”



Shadow led the group down the hallway and soon they arrived at the briefing room.

“Right in here,” Shadow said. “The commanding officer is waiting inside.”

They entered the room and saw a group of soldiers seated at a conference table. On the wall was a large monitor. And standing in front of the monitor was the commanding officer. Austin and Sally gasped in surprise. For they recognized this particular officer.

“Well, well, well. This is quite the surprise. Hello, Princess Sally. Hello, Austin. It's been a while.”

“Commander Fergus,” Sally exclaimed.


End of Chapter Three...