SS Town Hall ~ Riddler on the Roof

[Xeric]

Chase pushed open the gates which lead into the Town hall, it was very busy at this time of day so there were a lot of people entering and leaving the town hall.

"Here we are, guys. Station Square Town Hall~ I'm sure they have some information inside.." Chase sat down on a nearby bench and took an apple from his pocket.

"MUNCHIES <3"m

[AnT]

Of course, they didn't notice that the doors were missing, and there were repair guys fixing the doors, and the hole in the wall. This was because of a certain pyro robot, and a hyper canine cyborg. But that's all in the past.

"Ah yes, the heart of all urban environment. The site rested by the city's man. Come brave fellows!" Leaping on the bench Chase sat, Bill dramatically pointed at the building. "Let us bold forth and strike for information!"

And he leaped for the building, crying: "HU-ZUUUHHHH!!!"

[SHM 128 III]

Shaun looked up at the majestic building, trying to ignore all the construction work going on. He was never a big fan of politics, finding it all helplessly confusing, but if he had to brave it in order to find his friends, so be it.

Upon seeing Chase pull out the apple, though, he felt his priorities shift a bit as his stomach began growling. Apparently, that ice cream wasn't quite enough.

"Uh, Chase?" the deer asked, "You wouldn't happen to have another apple, would you?"

[Xeric]

"MUNCHCHOMPMUN-- Huh?" Chase turned to Shaun. "Hmm. Lets me see.." He lifted his hat slightly and rumages around inside. "Aha! Here you go... you might wanna clean it slightly first.." Chase threw the apple over to shaun.

"So.. *CHOMP* Where was the last pla-- *MUNCH* ce you saw your friends?" he mumbled.

[SHM 128 III]

When Chase asked his question, Shaun nearly choked on his apple. After recovering, he stuffed the apple in his vest pocket and turned to the dog.

"It was on the road from Emerald Town to Station Square. We were traveling, and then..."

He let out a long, sad sigh.

"... We were attacked. I'm not sure by what, but... I was knocked out and woke up in a hospital bed. I have no clue where they are now... "

He took the apple back out, but instead of eating it, he just stared at it for a while.

"I'm alone..."

[Xeric]

He looked at Shaun. "Hmm.. Did you check Emerald town before you came here? They may of went back there.." Chase threw the corr of the apple into a trash can and stood up. "Just a minuite" He ran over to the information booth and grabbed a handful of leaflets. "They could be anywhere in Station Sqaure then... The Buger place, The Hotel, the train station.. we better get started" He handed some leaflets over to Bill and some to Shaun.

"Hey, your not alone. You have me and.... er. Yeah. Bill" he replied.

[SHM 128 III]

"Right... Bill..."

Shaun glanced back at the armadillo, who was still prancing like an idiot a superhero towards the capital building.

"At any rate, I doubt they'd be back in Emerald Town. We already traveled pretty far before we were attacked. Besides, I don't think I could make the trip back by myself..."

That was when the deer noticed something else: there seemed to be a huge crowd of people right outside City Hall. It mostly appeared to be the paparazzi, with a few security guards right outside the building, keeping them from getting inside (like that would stop them).

"Hmm? What's going on?"

[AnT]

"Hu-ZuuuuUUUUUUHHHH!!"

BOOM! And a great weight crashed in front of the duo, plowing through the concrete. Yeah, Shaun thought he saw Bill, but really, the hero fell from the roof. Don't ask why he was there, or how he got there through the thick crowd. Don't ask.

"Friends! Brave warriors!!!" Bill dramatically cried as the smoke rose. "A great happening is taking place here! Nega Eggman has finally been brought to JUSTICE!!!"

[Xeric]

Chase was watching the crowd outside of the city hall. "Hmmm.. Deserves himself right. From what I heard, he's an evil man."

He stood up and put he hand on Shauns shoulder. "where do you wanna check first, buddy?" he grinned.

[SHM 128 III]

Shaun, however, still had his attention on the trial going on inside City Hall.

"Actually, Chase, maybe we should stick around..." the deer suggested, "I mean, maybe Eggman had something to do with what happened to my friends..."

Shaun scratched his head, deep in thought. There was no way he could be certain that Eggman was involved... After all, he couldn't even remember who attacked them! Still, Eggman was a pretty evil guy from what he heard, and evil people would do stuff like that, right? There was no sure way to tell, but this seemed like the best lead at the moment.

"Let's wait until the trial ends and see what happens. Maybe we can get a clue out of it or something."

[Xeric]

"Good Idea, Shaun"

Chase jumped up onto the back of a nearby bench; trying to see over the reporters.

[AnT]

Just then, a yellow hover bike touchdown in the front yard of City Hall. A large purple walrus dismounted, noticing the larger gathering that crowded in front of the doors. On his way home, Rotor noticed a large crowd in the government facility. Normally, he paid little attention to all that government stuff, unless its required for homework, but like a cat, he was curious.

"Hmm..."


"No matter how many thou seen such machines, I am still amazed of its ability to soar without wings."

Hearing that voice, Rotor noticed the elder armadillo on his bike. "Uhh...sir? That's kinda...my bike. Can you um...?"


Oblivious, Bill grinned at Rotor...if you can see his smile under his large mustache. "So young traveler! Have you come to witness an historic event? Eggman Nega has finally been brought to justice!"


"Who? Um...don't you mean 'Eggman'?"

[SHM 128 III]

"He keeps calling him 'Eggman Nega' for some reason. I... Don't really get it, either."

Shaun, turning his attention away from the commotion in front of City Hall, walked up to the purple walrus. Like Bill, he thought the hoverbike also looked pretty cool... Although he had the sense not to just get on it without its owner's permission.

"I'm Shaun," he introduced, "the dog over there is Chase, and that's... Bill... Yeah..."

The deer quietly spun his finger around in a circle next to his head.

"He's a little loopy..."

[AnT]

Though the old man was off the bike, Bill now was observing the crowd...a little TOO dramatically.


"Uh...I'll take your word for it. I'm Rotor..." he took a small glance at the crowd behind him. They looked like they were trying to get inside. "...and...what's going on here?"


Bill heard that, though. "Why justice is going on, lad! The foul machinist is facing trial as we speak!!"


"WHAT?!?! Eggman is on trial?!?!" Rotor's lips found themselves in a smile. "That's awesome!!!"

[Xeric]

Chase wandered over and presented his paw to Rotor. "Chase is the name." he smiled. He looked at the hoverbike then back at Rotor. "Fan of Extreme Gear, ey? I have a Hover bike myself" he bragged.

[AnT]

"Um...that's just a normal hover bike. I think Extreme Gear are still too new to tinker with yet." Rotor then pulled a handheld computer out of his tool-belt. Typing the keys, the screen showed some kind of TV channel. "I wonder if they're showing Eggman's trial on TV."

[SHM 128 III]

Shaun looked over Rotor's shoulder at his PDA while the walrus was surfing through the channels.

"Cool..." the deer commented, "I've always wanted one of those..."

Suddenly, the screen stopped on what looked like the interior of a courtroom. The incredibly recognizable scientist that the camera seemed to be focused the most on left no room for doubt: This was Eggman's trial!

However, Shaun noticed something a bit... Odd. Although he wasn't a big fan of law novels, from the few that he did read he recalled one key fact...

"Why is Eggman sitting at the prosecution table? Shouldn't he be the one on trial?"

[AnT]

"Why? Is that bad?" he asked, obviously means Rotor barely had any idea how a trial works...or the difference between a trial and a lawsuit. Although this was worrying him.

Suddenly, he heard some commotion between one of the press.

"Sheesh, I hope they hurry this stupid lawsuit trial so we can cover it. I got dinner with my sweetheart at four."

"April, the boss will have our heads with we don't cover this story. What was it Eggman was sueing this guy for?"

"I'm not sure...give me that folder. I'll look it up!"



"........" his eyes were as big as baseballs that day. "They're....kidding....right? ....A lawsuit?......They let....Eggman....FILE A LAWSUIT?!?!"

[Xeric]

Chase was slightly confused, he hadn't really been in this dimension long enough to understand who Eggman was; although, he did understand he was quite the evil-doer. "Him filing a lawsuit.. is that a bad thing?" he said

[SHM 128 III]

Shaun just shrugged.

"I dunno... I mean, I know even monsters have their rights, but that seems kinda rediculous... And why would Eggman sue anyone, anyway? It's not like he needs the money."

[AnT]

"And why would they even let him??" he snapped, looking quite unjustified. "Come on! He tries to take over the world, and they let HIM file a lawsuit??"

Grabbing the PDA, Rotor glared at it. "Huh?? Now he's calling Metal Sonic to the stand?? What is going on??"

[Xeric]

Chase sat on a bench nearby, still looking into the crowd of reporters. "Wow, this is taking forever. This must be a serious case" he sighed.

[SHM 128 III]

"Well, I'd believe that would be expected, Chase..." Shaun sighed, "I mean, it's Eggman, after all."

Shaun looked up at the clock above city hall and moaned.

"But you're right... This is taking a really long time. Maybe sticking around isn't such a good idea after all..."

[AnT]

"Yes, we shall let the law handle Nega." yes, he still was oblivious that this was a lawsuit, and that this was not his Eggman. Bill kept twisting the throttle handle on Rotor's bike. "This is still a fascinating flying machine. Perhaps it was the gods of Ozzie that led you to us, Wild-Teeth one."


".....teeth what?"


"We are in dire need of leads. My young stick-headed friend sadly was separated from his friends. He says that a vile robot done the deed."


"Uh...that's terrible and all, but what, you want me to fly you guys around?"


"Yes, my ingenious friend! I'm sure brave Shaun agrees, isn't that right Shaun?"

[SHM 128 III]

"I... Um... Well... I guess..." Shaun stammered at Bill's inquary, "But only if Rotor wants to. What do you think, Chase?"

There was a bit of a pause before the deer mumbled again.

"And I never said for certain that it was a robot..."

[Xeric]

"It's up to you lil' buddy. They are your friends after all." he said. The crowd of reporters began expanding. "Perhaps it would be a good idea to move?" he said in a worried tone.

[AnT]

He wasn't very sure about this. The old armadillo gives him the creeps, but it seems this deer guy lost his friends all thanks to Eggman...the same doctor that justice is favoring. Rotor can't stand him, and how he uses all his genius for evil. 300 IQ and he uses it for world domination. The man just tarnishes the name of science. If he used his knowledge for the good of the world, can you imagine how advanced they be?

Well, no use crying over that. The crowd was getting rough, and any more of watching this dumb lawsuit, Rotor would just bust in there and start shooting. He may as well get his mind off of this, and correct the cruel deed Eggman did; harassing this deer.

Plus, Rotor did find parts belonging to Scratch and Grounder. When he reassembled them, they somehow activated on their own and took off; making a mess in his lab. If these Eggman robots that attacked this guy happened to be those two....well then Rotor was highly responsible.

"Well...I could drop you off somewhere..."


The old warrior smiled. Oh yeah, how he knew it was a robot? Well he did met Liz...even though he hardly remembers her. Vague details, he remembered.


"...but do you have any idea where to go?" Perhaps if the deer remembered where he was attacked... "I mean, do you know where you were attacked? You guys could start from there."

[SHM 128 III]

Shaun paused and thought it over. They were attacked while traveling between Emerald Town and Station Square, so...

"I'm pretty sure it was Emerald Hill," the deer replied, "Yeah... I'm certain of it. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly sure where in Emerald Hill we were attacked, and it's a pretty big place..."

[AnT]

"At least we got a lead." walking over to his yellow hovwer bike, Rotor mounted. His bike also had those bean-shaped carts connected to the sides of the bike, each for Shaun and Chase. "Hop on."

"HU-ZUUHHH!!" with his usual battle cry, Bill hopped on back behind Rotor. "Then off we shall, to destiny!!!"

He was regretting this already.

[Xeric]

"Right!" Chase hopped into the side cart and held onto his hat. "Emerald Hill, here we come" he said whilst placing his goggles over his eyes.