Cosmo's Return prologue

Sonic, Tails, Amy, Chris, Knuckles, and Cream all sat in the Grand Hall. The lights were dim and there were many pictures up at the front surrounded by candles. The formality of the attire and the somber quietness of the hall gave the impression of a funeral, which would not be far off since this was a private memorial service for all the captains to pay respects to the soldiers and sailors that they lost under their command.

Tails had been dreading this moment since he had gotten the invitations, his friends had encouraged him to prepare something about Cosmo, but every time he tried, all the memories came flooding back and he found it impossible to even start in the midst of the grief. All that he managed to write was:

*Express how lucky the Blue Typhoon was,

*Thank the Admiralty for the Invitation.

*Try not to lose it.

Now, as Captian Sheridan of the S.S. Discovery finished up paying his respects to the marines lost on his ship, Tails knew that he would be called up next. He looked down at the 8 by 11 sheet with the three sentences, thought for a second, and added "I miss her greatly."

Fleet Admiral Greers came back on stage. "Thank you Captian Sheridan, Would Captian Miles Prower of the S.S. Blue Typhoon please come to the stage."

Tails stood up, and slowly walked past his friends. Chris gave him a bump on the arm, Tails acknowledged. Sonic said "You can do it."

Tails gave no response to this.

He slowly walked up the isle towards the podium, paper in hand, trying to keep it together.

All the way up, He could not get the image of the tree on the volatile orb out of his mind, and how he had meant to say 'I Love you', but instead shouted 'I'll miss you'. A regret that haunted him all the way back to Mobius.

As he approached the Podium, He tried to dispel his regret momentarily so that he could get through this. He could not, So he put his paper on the podium, looked up at the crowd and said. "First of all, I would like to thank the Admiralty, and Admiral Greers in Particular for inviting my small crew to this event. Of all the ships that served in the Defense Force, None was more Integral or Fortunate than the Blue Typhoon. My crew and I went through Hell and back together and have become all the closer for it."

"During the war, we only lost one hand."

"Lt. Cosmo." "One of the bravest and most compassionate people I have ever met, and without whom we would not be sitting here."

"From the moment we met her when she crashed in an escape pod outside the green hills, to when we lost her at what is now known as the battle of the singularity."

"… Her courage, fortitude, compassion, and strength of will shall never be forgotten."

Tails' voice cracked as he said this and he walked off stage.

He did not return to his seat, but instead headed for a side exit. As he exited, he heard Admiral Greers come back on stage to call up the next Captian, but none of it mattered to him.

He hurried out the side door, down the hall, and into the closest men's room. He then took off his formal jacket, put it on a hook by the door, turned on the water, and began to cry into a sink.

He did not care who else might be in the bathroom. For all he cared, the President and Joint Chiefs could walk out of the stalls, wash their hands, and leave all while talking about the civilian Captian draining his eyes into the sink by the wall, and it wouldn't have affected him.

As he tried to regain he sensed, images and memories kept flooding back. The Battle Bridge. The white aura around a dark orb. Both Robotnik and Cosmo telling him to pull the trigger. The regret of not even being able to tell Cosmo the truth even in the end. The forced Professionalism for a month on the way home. Truly, He had not broken down like this since the battle of the Singularity.

Everyone tried to comfort him on the way home, Even Eggman. But all it served to do was remind him of her soft voice, and comforting words. None of it ever helped.

Back in the auditorium, Sonic and friends began to wonder where exactly Tails had gone, though they did not say anything out of respect for Captian Caicilius Rex of the S.S. Melbourne, who was speaking at the time. (20 hands lost at the battle of Praxis Colony)

Eventually, the memorial wound its way through the Advanced Fleet, the Home Fleet, and the Colonial Fleet all during which there was no sign of Tails.

The memorial ended with Captian Kyle Horizon of the S.S. Excalibur II, who had not lost any of his crewmen, but did pay respects to the friends and classmates who he lost during the war. After which a Military Chaplain approached the podium, said a short prayer, and dismissed everyone.

"Begins to make you think, doesn't it" Chris said as they left the hall.

"Hmmm." Said Sonic absent mindedly.

The group walked in silence towards a small reception room. A custom at most funerals, and honored here.

At this point, the group split up slightly, Cream and Cheese went off to find her mother, Amy stuck close to Sonic, who had found a couple old friends from school, and Chris went off to get a drink.

As he poured himself a glass of punch, he began to wonder where Tails had gone off to. It had been quite a while, and he seemed mostly alright at the beginning of the night. "Maybe he's been hiding more than we realized" Chris thought to himself.

"Do you know what happened with Dr. Eggman?" A voice asked from behind Chris.

He turned around and was slightly surprised to be at eye level with a white wolf.

"Captian Horizon I presume?" Chris held out his hand which Kyle took.

"Mr. Thorndyke I presume?" Kyle replied.

They shook hands.

"So, do you know what happened with ?" Kyle repeated.

"Why do you ask?" Chris asked

"Because when I asked Admiral Nimitz, my superior, he only said that the matter was taken care of and we would be advised if it became relevant, and that any other information was classified."

"Well," said Chris, "… what makes you think that I know anything more?"

"You fought against him and with him during the war, I thought that you would be one of the key witnesses at the hearing, which I assume happened."

Chris could see that there would be no way to lie about this.

"You're new at this, aren't you?" Chris said.

"What makes you say that?"

"The Eagerness to take part in things that seem more important, I did the same thing in College as soon as I was promoted to Supervising Teacher's Assistant."

"Very perceptive of you." Said a slightly embarrassed Captian Horizon, "But still, Dr. Ivo Robotnik has been trying to take over us for years at this point, and we finally have him on trial for everything he's done, and now all that my superior has to say is 'you will be advised' and 'that information is classified.'"

Chris looked at Captian Horizon, and then discretely looked around, then said "You didn't hear this from me, but for his services to the Cosmic Defense Force and willingness to preserve life, Dr. Ivo Robotnik has been granted a 72 hour 'head start' and has been cleared of all criminal charge."

Captian Horizon looked at Chris with a mixture of shock and Exasperation.

"Before you say everything racing through your mind and make a scene," Chris said calmly "we wouldn't be sitting here without his help."

Captian Horizon raised his finger as though to make an objection, and then said calmly "Fair enough."

After a short silence, Captian Horizon asked "So, how is Captian Prower?"

Chris took a minute, looked around again, and said "Had you asked me before the memorial, I would have said 'a little melancholy but otherwise ok', but now I'm not so sure."

"Is it about the crew member that you lost?"

"Yes. It's been hard on all of us, but more so on Tails."

"Were they" Captian Horizon made a gesture to indicate togetherness, "an item when she died?"

"Tails would never say so, and you definitely didn't hear this from me, but yes."

"You seem to be willing to tell me things which you ought not to be, why?" Captian Horizon asked with concern.

"Some may call it snitching," Chris replied "but the thing is, Imma horrible liar and it would just cause more trouble than it's worth to lie to someone like you who seems adamant about information."

"Ok then." Captian Horizon said with an understanding nod.

"I'm still concerned though, it's been quite a while." Chris said

"I dunno," Said Captian Horizon, "Maybe he's more upset about your lost crew-member than you thought."

"Maybe." Chris replied.

At that moment, they both heard a voice over the crowd "Kyle!"

Both Chris and Captian Horizon looked over, and Chris did a double take when he Saw a green female fox beckoning in their direction.

"My first office, Sonar." Captian Horizon said, "I gotta go, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you to." Chris said slightly distractedly as Captian horizon joined Sonar and a couple others and left.

I know it's impossible, but it still makes one think: A green fox? Chris thought to himself, not that that would be what would necessarily happen, but still I had better check at some point.

As he was thinking this, he accidentally bumped into sonic by the drink table.

"Chris," Sonic said, "Are you ok?"

"What?... oh, I'm fine." Chris said hastily "What makes you ask?"

"You walked right into me and the crowd isn't that thick around here."

"Sorry I was lost in thought. Anyway, have you seen Tails about?"

"No." Sonic replied, "It's been a while, and I'm beginning to worry."

"Me to, we should probably find him." Chris replied

"Amy said that she was going to look for him a little while ago."

"But there is the chance that he's gone some where she can't."

"True, but I don't think that would stop her, now would it."

"Of course, not, she is incredibly persistent, but don't you think that she might try to look for him in all the wrong places?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean she may try to find him everywhere she would go, but not necessarily everywhere he would go."

"You know what, you're right we had better go find him." Sonic said as he threw his empty cup in the trash and headed towards the exit with Chris right behind.

Eventually, Tails regained enough sense to leave the restroom, jacket draped over his shoulder.

As he came around the corner, he ran into his Boss (Craig Miller second VP of Development).

"Mr. Miller!" Tails said.

"You ok son?" He asked.

"I… Suppose," Tails lied through his teeth, "but what are you doing here?"

"A close friend lost his daughter in the war." He said.

"My condolences." Said Tails.

"Thank you, but I think you're the one in need of condolences. Now tell me, are you really alright?"

Tails nodded slightly, blinking back tears.

"Don't lie to me son, you lost a ship-mate, right?"

Tails nodded slightly, tears gathering up in the corners of his eyes

"Was she close?"

Tails nodded a little more, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks.

"Come here" he said pulling Tails into a side hug.

They began to walk down the corridor.

"I know how you feel." Mr. Miller said. "My Niece was in the Marine corps, and was killed on a spec-opps mission near Suez."

Tails just thought to himself Did you end her yourself? How else could you possibly know how I feel!

Mr. Miller noticed the reaction, but continued "We were close, she always said that I was her inspiration and often came to me for advice and to share stories. When she died, I didn't know what to do. I could barely work."

Tails tried to hear, and understood what he was doing, but it was exactly what everyone on the Blue Typhoon tried to do and it never helped.

"You know what," Mr. Miller began "Given everything you've been through, you deserve a break."

Tails said nothing, trying to keep some kind of composure.

"Sabbatical: 4 months, effective immediately."

Tails said the only thing that came to mind: "Can you do the same for my friends?"

"I'll see what I can do." Mr. Miller said in reply.

They both rounded a corner.

"Tails!" Amy said and hugged him.

"We've been looking all over for you man!" Sonic added. "Where've you been?"

Tails started, then Mr. Miller cut him off and said "He's been walking and talking with me."

"Ok, thank you for finding him sir." Chris said.

Mr. Miller gave a small exasperated sigh, nodded, looked at his watch and said "Well, my wife is now waiting for me in the car, I must be going. I trust that Tails here is in good hands."

"Yes Sir." Chris replied.

"Don't call me Sir son, it gives me flashbacks." He said to Chris.

"Ok, Sorry." Said Chris.

"It's ok, Have a good night." He said and left towards a side exit.

The four of them began to make their way to the front exit of the building. It was now nearly 11 pm, and most others had already gone home. The only ones left at the reception were a few old sailors toasting and singing of their fallen shipmates.

At this point, Tails finally looked up and said "Where's Knuckles and Cream?"

"Cream went home with her mom a while ago, and Knuckles is pulling the car around." Amy answered.

"Oh." Tails said in a small voice.

They exited the building and approached a silver and carbon Charger idling at the curb.

As they got in the car, Knuckles turned around and said "Hey kid, where you been?" Before he could finish, both Chris and Sonic gave him a look that said now is not a good time, at which point knuckles became quiet.

Tails got into the back-left window seat, and Chris into the passenger seat. Forcing Sonic and Amy to sit rather close. To which Sonic seemed to make no aversion.

As they pulled away knuckles asked "So, how about some music for the ride?" with a response of genera agreement from everyone in the car, except Tails who just continued to look out the window at the night sky.

"Any Suggestions?" Knuckles asked.

"Oldies." Said Sonic instantly.

"Sure." Said Chris.

"Alright then." Knuckles said pressing a couple buttons on the radio.

"Coming up next on our all Liverpool evening: That perfectly ridiculous sci-fi synth act A Flock of Seagulls. Don't we all wish we could pull off a do like that."

Tails was at once filled with happiness at the opening synth riff of Space Age Love Song, one of his favorites from the band, and then sadness.

Tears began to visibly roll down his face again.

Amy noticed this in the reflection of a street light and motioned to Knuckles to turn it off. Which he did.

"Why did you stop it? I love that song." Tails said quietly. (to everyone's surprise)

"Ok then." Knuckles said as he turned it back on right at the chorus.

Tails felt an odd mix of happiness, contentment, sorrow, and guilt in various combinations.

He then physically turned himself away from Sonic and Amy and put his head against the window.

Everyone, except knuckles, looked at Tails with confusion and concern as the song continued.

It was a bit of a drive back to the valley from the memorial, and so the radio DJ went from A flock of Seagulls to Karma Chameleon, to Hungry like The Wolf, and so on. Any time someone tried to turn the radio off for Tails, he would look up and maybe ask "why?"

"Can we change the station?" Chris asked.

"Shure, why not." Knuckles replied.

Chris looked back to see if there were any objections. Sonic just nodded sleepily, Amy was asleep on Sonic's shoulder, and Tails was still looking out the window. The sleeve of his oxford now visibly tear-stained.

He then turned around and surfed through the stations.

Though both Chris and Tails knew the universe itself is an impartial and inanimate entity, it can sometimes seem to have a cruel sense of humor. As Chris surfed through the stations, he hit a rap song about love and loss, a country song about love and loss, a rock song about love and loss, and a pop song … about love and loss before settling on an alternative rock station playing The Ataris' Takeoffs and landings. He looked back specifically at Tails to see if this set him off, and oddly saw a slight smile of his face.

It was nearly one in the morning before they arrived home. Knuckles pulled up to Green Hill Lane and let everyone off, and said bye before continuing on.

As they made their way towards everyone's houses, Amy looked over and noticed that Tails was missing something.

"Tails" Amy said, "did you leave your jacket in Knuckles' car?"

Tails said nothing, and just continued to walk with his hands in his pockets.

As they walked, Amy tried to strike up conversation. "So, Chris, now that all the formalities are over, do you have any plans?"

"Now that you mention it yes, I was going to help Knuckles with the Master Emerald tomorrow. That reminds me, Tails could I get the command level access codes to Engineering?"

"Sure." Tails said, "The command override code is Prower – Alpha – one – Charlie – niner – Zulu."

Chris was surprised at this, it was supposed to be a code only known by the Captian for emergency situations, but made no objections.

Presently, they approached Amy's house. "Nightcap anyone?" She asked.

"Shure, why not." Chris said.

"Can't, I need sleep." Sonic said.

Tails just shook his head.

"It's just cream soda." Amy said, but tails just shook his head and started to walk away.

"Key's under the mat Chris." Sonic said and waved goodbye.

Sonic and Tails continued towards their houses in silence. Tails had not spoken to Sonic since the battle of the Singularity.

Eventually they approached Sonic's place, and he turned in with a "Good night Tails." To which Tails said nothing and carried on towards his own house.

Tails continued, still stewing in thoughts of grief and regret. Not regret at what he had to do, it was necessary of course, but regret at the natural outcome.

Could there have been another way? He continually asked himself.

Each footfall seemed to echo this. Another. Way. Another. Way. All the way back to his house.

He approached his own door, unlocked it, and entered the small ranch house.

Walking in, he placed his phone, keys, and wallet on the kitchen counter and approached a small potted plant on the window sill above the sink. It was about an inch tall, and had just began to bud. Tails felt the soil, which was a wee bit dry, and added a small measure of water to the pot.

He then walked down the hall to his bedroom.

Standing in front of his closet he un-did his tie, shed the formal attire, and got ready for bed.

He approached his bed from the normal side, but noticed the framed picture from the party Cosmo threw back on the Blue Typhoon and then went to the other side and sat down. Everything started to stew in his mind.

He lay down, scooted over to his normal side, turned off the light quickly, and turned away.

The moon shone brightly that night. He could see out the window and across the Green Hills. Eventually in the midst of his thoughts he fell asleep without even realizing it.