The Revenge of Marengo

[OctaScratchRock]

A few weeks after Robotnik's defeat and Mobius' restoration, the former Freedom Fighters had made remarkable progress rebuilding the planet. Snivley had been caught and sent to prison, and Mobotropolis had been restored to its former glory.

But what the former Freedom Fighters had yet to learn was that Mobius' problems were yet to truly end.

The night was foggy and the moon was hidden by clouds. A lone car shared the highway just outside of Mobotropolis with no one else. Or at least, its driver THOUGHT he was alone.

Behind the wheel of the car was the chairman of the newly formed Mobian Race Car Association, formed to entertain the Mobian citizens and boost their morale after the hard times they'd been through roboticized. As he drove along, he felt another pair of headlights behind him. He spun his head around, and following him was a gray sports car. One which didn't look familiar at all.Or at least, it didn't look familiar outside of legends the man had read. Mobius had just set up trade ties with a distant planet called "Earth," yet this vehicle looked like none of the automobiles imported from there nor any of the vehicles built on Mobius. The only thing that stood out about it was two symbols flashing on the car's bonnet: "X3."

"Could that......" he muttered, "REALLY be....."

The car suddenly let out a startling, robotic-voiced cry: "MARENGO STILL RACES!"

The driver gasped. "Who said that!?" he muttered. "I can hear his voice!"

Suddenly, the unknown sports car boosted ahead, swerved around, and smashed into the Chairman's car head-on. He was sent soaring over the edge of the highway to his fiery death.




The next morning, Princess Sally Acorn, the youngest leader in the planet's history at a mere 21, was called to the Mobotroplis Police Department to investigate the mysterious accident.

Sally had a look through the former Chairman's records.

"I don't see any reason why anybody would want to kill him." said Sally. "His records look perfectly clean."

"There's worse news, Your Highness." said the police chief. "We have the current owner of the Mobian Race Car Association here, and he claims he's never seen or heard of such a car. A black sports car with "X3" on the bonnet doesn't sound familiar to him at all."

Sally was puzzled. "What do we do then? I can't have my people being smashed over cliffs!" she said.

That's when the owner of the MRCA left. He ran out to his car and began dialing on his telephone to call the former Assistant Chairman (now Chairman due to the former Chairman's fatal crash) to tell him about the accident.

Evidently, he knew something that he wouldn't tell the police.

The former Assistant Chairman laughed through the phone. "Don't go out at night!?" he howled. "No way, bum! I'm the new Chairman of the Mobian Race Car Association! I got a lotta business ta do, even at night! Unfortunately, ta'night's one of tha nights I gotta go out, so I'm goin'!"

And just like that, he hung up.

That night, he was driving along a cliffside in a large, customized Jaguar sedan. And just like the previous Chairman, it was too late for him to act when the same black car appeared in his rear-view and rammed him off the cliff.

Now, Sally was angry. Two mysterious accidents of the same kind, and not a clue as to who was behind them. All through the next day, Sally was busy researching with Nicole by her side.

[RachelTheSeeker]

(Hey hey. Was thinking of joining, but do you have any preferences on characters? I'm not sure how well I can play one of the canon cast for now; would this OC-turned-Mobian of mine work?)

[OctaScratchRock]

Oh, that would work perfectly! Welcome!

[RachelTheSeeker]

The last few weeks have been a marvel. Slowly yet surely, Mobius was returning to its former glory. Already bits of the old world before Robotnik's reign were starting to find use. No longer was technology meant to rule the world; with the actions of the heiress to the Acorn monarchy, surely the people of Mobius will learn to use science responsibly with nature.

On the outskirts of the dying Robotropolis, a lone lioness had set down her pack. She had made the journey to the converted capital if only to see it become obsolete. Now and again she'd had interactions with the Freedom Fighters, but never stuck around to formally join. Hers was a journey of self-discovery; even if she could do good by their ways, they mainly stuck to Knothole Village. What of the other Mobians? For this reason Raziya traveled, knowing her days near Aquatic Ruin Zone couldn't last forever.

Her motions were graceful and fluid as a cat was wont to move. A martial dance as the sun rose behind her, dew of the returning grass cool across her paws. Each motion had a meaning, even if it seemed impractical in a real fight. As she swept her upper body low she took hold of her hardwood staff, sweeping from an unarmed to armed form. After this she would cultivate her aura (or qi, as she'd heard someone call it before), and would replenish her pool of spiritual energy with a healthy breakfast.

Or, she would, if there wasn't a sudden sound getting louder across the regrowing wasteland.

The noise was one she couldn't place at first. She had no need for technology much of the time. It dawned on her that this was some sort of engine. Of the metallic menaces built under Robotnik, only the most primitive seemed to make that kind of revving noise. Like the growling of a fierce beast, it only got louder and louder. In the early morning sun, Raziya saw the danger just seconds before it was upon her.

Some kind of enclosed vehicle, almost like a wagon. This looked even more primitive than the hovercraft of Robotropolis, but had a nice style to it. Four wheels, and barriers of glass to protect those within. Much, much quicker than a wagon pulled by beasts of burden... and it was coming her way in a beeline!

The grey blur, kicking up dust with its rubber-shelled wheels, would kill most Mobians at the speed it was going. Luckily for Raziya, she was not an average Mobian. Alert to the danger coming upon her fast, her aura surged outward across her body. Electric as the engine providing the sports car its power, Raziya leaped at the last second. The driver within, just as alien as this imported device from another realm, wouldn't feel the slightest collision with his intended hit-and-run victim. Instead the lioness scampered across the hood and roof of the car, a seemingly blur for only a sprint's time.

Raziya hopped off, eyes still wide after acting upon instinct. Her staff was still in-hand, her pack... oh no! Surely the driver didn't run over her pack?! Her eyes darted across the sparse grass; by the grace of Saint Aralisi, her pack was unharmed. No amount of seniority in her care could help the knapsack endure getting ran over.

She turned on a heel, watching the car. Was it just her, or was there something... inorganic about the driver? She couldn't confirm; she was too busy scrambling up the roof to get a good look. Whoever it was, they seemed to mean business. Whether incidental or not, the crazed driver wanted to eliminate whoever was unlucky enough to encounter them.

[OctaScratchRock]

Later on, Sally held a private meeting to question Reziya about her encounter with the mysterious vehicle.

"Are you aware that two members of the Mobian Race Car Association were run off the road and killed by this mysterious car?" she asked.

"No, actually." Reziya replied.

Sally reached into her vest and began to dig around for something. "Hold on." she said. "I've got an item of evidence the police found at the scene of an accident."

Sally pulled a piece of paper out of her vest and held it up to Reziya. It was completely blank, except for two symbols written across the paper: "X3."

"Does this look familiar at all?" Sally asked. "Take a good look and tell me."

[tiff15]

OOC: thank you for the invite, OctoscratchRock. I have a slight twist on Tristina that I'd like to use here, if I may. Also, I'd like to introduce a device that I'm going to introduce later in Tails series.

"Analysis of engine and inner mechanics complete, Tristina. transferring to on screen display."
"Thank you, Mac. save a copy of the findings to external hard drive and wait for further instructions."
the small, streamlined computer (in front of where her wheelchairs joystick used to be) beemped in compliance and was silent.. having donated most of her legs electronics to research and curing robotization, Tristina was one of the last of the old era. handicap now by choice, she was a living testament of personal sacrifice. That, and since the original roboticizers malfunction had led to her partial robotization, Tristina decided it was best for everyone involved if she forgo the process.

the stares had faded from the crowd weeks ago, except for those from outside the city. Tristina jerked slightly as she gave the mental order for her wheelchair to stop, and taking a deep breath, she raised a fist - now sans the black gloves that had protected her hands - to announce her arrival.

the door opened and Tristina spoke immediately. "Your majesty, I'm here with the analysis you requested..Oh. Hello." Tristina stopped herself mid report as her eyes fell upon the feline in the room.

OOC: feel free to use Tristina as she is needed. Mac is similar to Nichole, only that he addresses Tristina as Tristina and not Tiffany. Tristina's wheelchair is now powered by her mikanuean hacking powers, but her powers extend to electronics only.

[OctaScratchRock]

Sally was puzzled.

"What does it say about our vehicular menace?" she asked. "So far I'm not getting any green lights."

Suddenly, a voice came from outside of the room.

"X3?" someone shouted.

Everybody in the room shot up and looked to the door.

Sonic himself walked in.

"I know that name." he said.

Sally looked delighted. "Tell us all you know about it!"

Sonic began to explain. "You see, years and years ago, far before Robotnik took over Mobius, there was an automobile race at Danger Pass just outside the desert. One of the entering cars was nicknamed "The Marengo."

"Marengo?" asked Sally. "I wonder what that means."

"Marengo was the name of a horse that was famous." replied Sonic. "Napoleon Bonaparte's horse to be precise. It even saved Napoleon's life a few times."

"What's Napoleon's horse got to do with the car?" asked Sally.

"Well, it IS a good name for a race car." replied Sonic. "Anyway, the Marengo was cut off at the peak of Danger Pass by the racing cars owned by the Three Roses Club (which was recently reformed) and it went sailing over the edge, killing its driver instantly."

Sally and all of her friends were puzzled. "Well, now we know why it's killing members of the Three Roses Club." she said.

Tristina spoke up. "Was there anything special about the Margeno's driver? Does he have any living descendants?" she asked.

Sonic shook his head. "No one knows. You see, the Marengo's driver kept his identity secret for years. When he died, no one knew who he was. His body was much to burnt and charred to be identified, so that was that."

Sally gave a disappointed look.

But suddenly, an idea struck her.

"Maybe he never died! Maybe he just faked his death and now he's out for revenge!" said Sally.



MEANWHILE



Snively had busted out of prison. Underneath the remains of Robotnik's HQ, he had a black sports car with the symbols "X3" written across the bonnet.

"The revenge I've been planning for years is finally coming true!" Snively exclaimed. "MY FATHER drove the Marengo to his death that one fateful day at Danger Pass, but now it shall be THEM who die! There's a new race beginning at Danger Pass tomorrow, and the Three Roses Club will enter it. What they don't know is that it will also be their LAST race!"

Snively had been remote-controlling the Marengo and using a fake robot driver to run executives off the road before. Now he knew that he couldn't use the robot dummy anymore, as the police would likely be able to identify it by now. He still had to remote control the car, but he knew he had to make someone sit in the car and pretend to drive it. That way, no one would get suspicious and he wouldn't get caught.

But the question was, who would he have to sit in the car and pretend to drive it while he remote controlled it from high above?



MEANWHILE

"There's another race being held at Danger Pass tomorrow. The EXACT same place where the Marengo crashed years ago." explained Sally. "Do you think the car might show up there? Should we go just in case?"

[OctaScratchRock]

Tristina left after the meeting was over. The night was just as still as it was the night she was nearly run down.

That's when she heard an all-too-familiar voice call out to her.

"Hey! Would you like to do me a little favour?"

Out of the darkness stepped Snively, holding some sort of weapon in his hands for intimidation.

"I just need you to pretend to drive a car for me, that's all. I'd hate to have to punish you."

[tiff15]

"Hey! Would you like to do me a little favour?"

Tristina snarled the second Snively stepped into the clearing holding the weapon.

"Mac, alert 1. contact clearance: Julia!" Tristina cried, raising a glowing hand to the weapon.

Snively fired the weapon, and Tristina cried out as a light green aura surrounded her. she felt her wheelchair begin to shift uncontrollably from form to form, many of which hadn't been used in months.

spider mode, hover mode, ground mode, she even felt turbo mode begin to power up before the process repeated itself. In her mind, she got a glimpse of every computer around her all at once: civilians computers, Robotnik's old database, Nicholes files, and the new systems Sally had implemented.

"I did warn you."

Tristina doubled over, trembling as she felt her wheelchair begin to move. glancing behind her she noticed as Snively's boots clipped the ground. "s-stop." she slurred, raising a glowing hand again. "I highly suggest you rethink that gesture." Snively said quietly, nesting the weapon into her quills. "the second dose will be even more unpleasant."

"The princess will know..."

"Yes, and you're going to downplay that little distress call."

Tristina glanced up to see Snively push her into a van driven by a refurbished swatbot. "Drive." Snively commanded. Tristina snarled and raised her hand towards the swatbot when Snively fired the weapon again.

"You are quite stubborn, aren't you?" Snively sighed as she spazzed again. her head dropped, trembling in her chair. "Now then, about my favor."

"where...taking...me.."

"Hm, note to self. the experimental weapon disintegrates communication skills," said Snively, examining the side of the device. "as for your primal question, just a little drive so we have time to chat." Tristina snarled as Snively pressed the weapon against the side of her head.

"Honestly, Hacker, given how much of a thorn you were in Robotnik's side during the war, I would have thought you would have put up more of a fight. Not as tough as you pretended, eh?"

Tristina snarled and reached for the weapon. the second her fingers wrapped around the barrel, a painful jolt coursed through her. she soon found herself doubled over, her head on her metal legs, completely paralyzed from the neck down. she felt the car turn as Snively grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back into a sitting position.

"Now, that you've settled down." said Snively, "You're going to drive a car for me in the race. well, 'drive' is a strong word given your..." Snively smiled and nodded to her robotic legs. "You're going to pretend to drive. That's it."

"and if I ref-" Tristina stopped as Snively pressed the weapon against her head again. "I honestly don't think you want a third dose, do you? Most of your Mikanuean counterparts barely lasted 2. given, you always have been more stubborn than even your freedom fighter allies. must be a recurring trait in hedgehogs."

Tristina smirked inwardly at the snide comparison between herself and Sonic. "so, drive this little car for me, and I won't expose you to the Mikanuean version of Heck. refuse, or try to warn anyone..." Tristina cried out as Snively fired the weapon again. her head dropping to her chest, she felt her cheeks burn as a thick black oil began to leak from under her legs. "Stop here. the hacker is leaving."

as the van door opened, Snively pushed Tristina's wheelchair sideways. the hedgehog cried out as her paralyzed body hit the ground hard, leaving a gash on the side of her head. the last thing Tristina heard as the thundering of feet towards her as the tires of the van squealed in goodbye.

[OctaScratchRock]

The next morning, Snively got out his notes on all the information he had picked up about Tristina. She seemed too weak to deal with Snively's attacks, but just strong enough that she'd be a believable driver behind the wheel of the X3 and no one would suspect. Without her tech and power, that is.

"Today's the big day." said Snively as he introduced the X3 to Tristina, SWATbots all around. "You'll pretend to drive it at the big race at Danger Pass."

"What do you want to win a race for?" asked Tristina. "Don't balding maniacs like you have better things to do?"

"Oh, no, no." laughed Snively. "It's not the race I'm interested in. It's who's IN the race that I'm interested in."

Tristina kept mental note of Snively's words.

"I'm going to have you behind the wheel of the X3, my father's finest creation, as I run off the road the remaining members of the Three Roses Club, who is the team that caused my father to crash and die behind the wheel of this very car at Danger Pass so many years ago."

Tristina scowled. "There are plenty of ways I could stop you, you know." she said.

"I doubt you have a choice." said Snively. The SWATbots all cocked their weapons.

[tiff15]

"Never doubt the enemy needle nose," Tristina whispered, examing every inch of the car. "Your dear uncle made that mistake, and paid for it. I doubt you want to follow?" pushing her wheelchair manually (both to keep Snively from using his weapon and the swatbots from using theirs) Tristina visually scanned the car. keeping her face away from Snively, Tristina's eyes faded from view as she quietly scanned and reviewed information about this X3.

"Well?" Tristina blinked as Snively stepped up beside her. "As you said," Tristina said, deciding to try to stroke Snively's ego a bit to get him to relax. "I don't really have much of a choice, do I?" Snively smirked as Tristina wheeled herself over to the driver's side. as she raised a glowing hand, Snively raised his own weapon and the swatbots raised theirs. "at ease, Needle Nose." Tristina snarled as her eyes began to fade from view. "I'm just checking the specs. I do like to know what I'm working with after all."

True to her word, Tristina ended the scan after reviewing the profile of the car. "Interesting." she said in a monotone voice before raising her head. "the X3 did have a model O engine and an X safety strap that would rival even today's standards. too cheap? or am I to be more than just the pretty face behind the wheel?"

Tristina smiled tensely to Snively, all the while thinking He hasn't left me alone since last night. if he's not with me, a swatbutt was in the shadows. I've got to get a moment alone to send a message to the Princess.

[OctaScratchRock]

"Well, we have no time to waste. The race starts very soon, and I've been planning this revenge for years." said Snively. "Get in the car. Oh, and will you call her the Marengo for me? That's what my father called her, even though the hood says "X3."'

Tristina played along, hoping that perhaps the cover of the car's interior would allow her enough cover to signal to Sally without being noticed.

https://www.deviantart.com/octascratchr ... -834006229

The Marengo arrived at Danger Pass and was immediately recognized by several other drivers who knew the car's story.

"Is that REALLY the Marengo!?" one shouted.

"It's the X3!" shouted another.

The Three Roses Club had three cars in the race. All three of them were silver Ford GT's painted in a plain livery. They were numbered "6" "7" and "8" respectively. Snively had plans for all three of them. Plans that ended in death.

"I can't believe I'm actually ready for this!" said Snively as he hopped aboard the helicopter he would be using. "I've been planning revenge on the Three Roses Club for years and it's finally going to happen!!!"

[tiff15]

Tristina trembled as she felt the Marengo roll up to the starting line. she felt the eyes of the competitive cars drivers staring, whispering amongst themselves.

come ON, Tristina she thought with a snarl to herself. what are you more afraid of. Snivleys weapon, or BEING Snivleys weapon? The swatbot next to her sat unmovingly. it was preprogrammed to keep her in her role, nothing more. its laser pistol, pre-programmed with Snively's weapon, sat pointed at her.

Drivers, take your places.

Tristina felt the car move forward, slowly, engine rumbling the car around her. "Mac..." she whispered, "prepare to.."

"cease command, hacker." the statuesque swatbot had come to life, pointing Snivleys weapon at her head. "Cancel voice command, Mac," Tristina said slowly, her voice dripping with venom. the swatbot, apparently, didn't notice. it did, however, slowly lower the weapon back to its lap.

Drivers, start your engines...

her left hand hidden from the swatbots view, Tristina quietly began crafting an encoded knife. It's my only chance left. Tristina thought, willing the knife into being. the glowing transparent knife would stall the swatbots processes and force it to reboot its systems. This would hopefully give Tristina enough time to use Mac to send a message to The Princess...and save 3 innocent lives.

[OctaScratchRock]

The flag dropped and the race was on.

The three silver Ford GTs owned by the Three Roses Club stuck together well, refusing to go too far ahead or behind each other. Strength in numbers, they seemed to believe. For Snively, of course, this simply meant his job would be easier. All three of them were right there together, so he wouldn't have to run one off the side of the cliff and go searching for the others.

Snively sat in his helicopter, remote control device in-hand.

"I'm finally ready." he said. "Time to test what this baby can do before I'm able to catch up to the Three Roses Club's cars."

The Marengo pulled up behind a white Toyota Chaser. The driver of the car looked into his rear view and shrieked, recognizing the gray "X3" labeled car. It was less than a second later that he was struck from behind and sent sailing over the edge to his fiery doom.

"Heh........so it works well enough." Snively muttered.

Tristina, having just witnessed a death (and having sort of been responsible for it, as part of her brain told her) was now more determined than ever to find a safe way to contact the Princess before anyone else was run down. The SWATbot sitting next to her didn't seem dumb enough to forget about his job.

[tiff15]

Tristina leaned back against the headrest as tears slid down her cheeks. she HAD to stop Snivley. she HAD to.

opening her eyes, the hedgehog noticed she was nearing car number 6.

Hiding her knife near her lap, Tristina undid the safety harness and launched herself at the swatbot, struggling with its laser arm. Despite the scuffle, the Marengo kept a steady pace towards the number 6 car.

Tristina screamed again as the laser went off, engulfing her in a green glow. as her hacking powers went haywire, Tristina noticed Snivleys control of the Marengo slip.

the car began to drift side to side as Tristina convulsed, then was shoved back into her seat by the swatbot.

"I know you can hear me, Needle Nose!" Tristina shouted at the swatbot. "If I have to kill myself to stop you, then I will! weapon or no weapon!"