Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic or any of the characters in this fanfic.

"Why did we take on this job?"

I looked up at my partner as he spoke. His expression was a mix of disappointment and uncertainty. I managed a weak smile.

"The pay was good?"

He frowned at me.

"Yes, but this wasn't what I was hoping for."

I looked forward.

Yeah…this doesn't look good for us.

Sonic was speeding towards us, a look of determination on his face. I heard my partner shift his weight, and I glanced at him. He had gotten into a battle stance. I smiled, then looked back at the speeding hedgehog.

"Look, I don't have time for you guys…"

I frowned.

"Aww, we were gonna roll out the welcome mat!"

I heard my partner sigh as Sonic stopped in front of us.

"I don't want to fight either of you."

My partner cracked his knuckles.

"Well, our employer doesn't want you interfering with his plans, so…"

Sonic leapt out of the way as my partner swung, missing him by mere inches. I leapt away as well, giving them room to fight. I watched as Sonic dodged and as my partner missed. If this went according to our plan, Sonic would get tired out from fighting my partner and not have enough energy to deal with me.

I smiled, taking this time to hide further down the large corridor, watching silently as they continued to battle.

Eventually, Sonic decided to fight back. I flinched whenever my partner got hit, and I smirked whenever the hedgehog got hurt. After a few more minutes, Sonic pulled off a special attack – his signature homing attack – and knocked out my partner. I stared, shocked, but noticed that the hedgehog had been weakened somewhat. I smirked.

Just as we had planned…

He looked around, searching for me, frowning.

"Alright, where are you…?"

I conjured up a weapon – a bomb – in my hand and lit the fuse with my fingers. I tossed it at Sonic.

"Think fast, Sonic!"

He was caught off-guard, catching the bomb in his hands. The bomb exploded mere seconds afterward, sending the hedgehog backwards a few feet from the impact.

Got him!

I giggled as he got to his feet.

"…Look, I don't want to hurt you! I know that Robotnik hired both of you to stop me, but…"

I wagged my finger at him disapprovingly.

"You've hurt me a few times in the past, Sonic. You're saying that you don't wanna hurt me now…so what's changed here? Hmm?"

He sweatdropped, and I giggled again.

"L-look, Bean, I…"

"Bzzt! Oops, time's up!"

In an instant, I conjured up several bombs at once, all of them lit and around me. Sonic stared, a strange look in his eyes that I wasn't familiar with. I grinned, looking up at him.

"You gonna just stand there and let 'em blow up, destroying this corridor and preventing you from getting to Robotnik, or will you do something about it?"

"Bean…!"

I crossed my arms and tapped my foot impatiently, mocking him.

"Well, Sonic? I'm waiting~!"

He rushed forward, reaching out…

"Bean, move!"

It was then I realized my error.

…I'm in the middle of all of these bombs.

I realized this too late; the bombs exploded simultaneously, creating a hole in the corridor of the airship and sending shrapnel everywhere. Immense pain tore through my small body, and I fell through the newly-formed hole in the floor.

"Bean!"

I didn't have the strength or energy to move; the pain was overwhelming. As I fell, I saw Sonic looking down at me, concerned and screaming my name. I watched as the hedgehog and the airship got smaller and smaller; I was plummeting towards the ground – or was it the sea? – and I closed my eyes.

…Bark…Sonic…Forgive me…