Chapter 2: Miscalculation

Tails: It's been 3 days since that guy Lynx threatened me over the phone, so I decided to act first before he gets brave and makes a move.

First, I hacked into my schools security grid (which wasn't hard) and I now have direct access to their security cameras. I also set up facial recognition so that if he does come back, I'll know his name, known address and associates.

Second I added an alarm that triggers if the SAGE program spots him visually or confirms his voice to anywhere within the city.

Back at school, my classes are pretty easy, it's just band practice that's getting to me. I have to juggle between studying, rehearsing and keeping tabs on Lynx.

I play guitar, Charmy's on drums and our new friend Lettia is singing. She's great, I just wish I had the extra time to really get to know her.

The school day comes to an end, and Tails makes his way back home. He listens to music while checking on the SAGE program as he walks.

He unlocks his door, opens a can of soda and sits on his office chair, casually spinning around in circles as he waits for his computer to boot up.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The teenage fox grabs the desk to stop the spinning chair and cautiously walks to his door. He grabs a metal baton from a closet and holds it behind his back just in case he needs to fight.

He looks through the peep hole and sees Lettia standing in the hallway

What's she doing here?

He tosses the baton away and unlocks the door for her

"Lettia, hey! How are you?" Tails asks

"I'm great, I just wanted to talk to you and Charmy told me your address" she replies

Of course he did...

"Come in. Excuse the mess, I wasn't expecting visitors. Honestly, I never get any these days"

"Aw, why not?"

"Well, my friends all live in different cities or they're out on important missions to save the world" Tails says "They said it was best for me to stay in school, anyway. At least I have Charmy to annoy the shit out of me everyday, now"

The female hedgehog giggles at this and looks around Tails' apartment. She sees a photo of him, Sonic and Knuckles standing in front of a Casino and smiling.

"I read a lot about Sonic, he was like this celebrity from around here. How was he?" Lettia asks

"Ah, y'know... just like you and me. If he was a celebrity, he never acted like it. He just wanted to do the right thing. He was my best friend, a brother. Same with Knuckles, though he'll never admit it. He's a good guy"

Lettia sees a photo of Two older Foxes, male and female, holding a baby closely

"Are these your parents?"

"Yep. Rosemary and Amadeus. That's me they're holding"

"Do you see them often?"

Tails hesitates for a moment before answering "...they're gone, too. When I was 2 they got picked up by Robotnik's militia and I never saw 'em again. Not that I remember seeing them, but y'know..."

With nothing to say, Lettia pulls Tails in for a comforting hug while he tries to get this memory out of his head and move on.

"I'm sorry about everyone you lost. I know what it's like, so uh... if there's anything you need, just let me know"

Tails looks her in the eyes and smiles "Hey, Thanks Lettia. Y'know, you're probably the only girl from school whose even remembered my name, let alone been nice to me"

The female hedgehog smiles back, then Tails' phone starts to vibrate so he glances at it

WARNING: LOCATION COMPROMISED, IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

What the hell?

"Excuse me just a sec" Tails says

He reads the details and learns 6 hostiles are on their way to his apartment building.

"Is everything alright?" Lettia asks

"Yes, everything's okay. I just have my uh, Landlord coming in for an emergency inspection"

"Don't they need to give 24 hour notice before they can come in?"

Tails thinks fast "Nor-Normally yes but this is a matter of safety, so they say"

Lettia raises an eyebrow at this

"Trust me, it happens a lot here. I just need to clean up quickly, sounds like they're coming within the hour"

"Are you sure everything is alright, Tails?"

"Yes, ask Charmy, he'll tell ya about it while degrading me in the same sentence. Speaking of which, wanna go meet up with him? We can grab something at the food court downtown and have a laugh about this"

"Sure, I'd like that"

"Great, let me just lock up very quickly and we can go"

Tails uses the SAGE program to turn on his security system and motion detectors that are inside and out of his apartment.

"Wait, don't you have to be here when they show up?" Lettia asks

"I've got a feeling they'll come in whether I'm here or not. Besides, I don't have anything to hide. Let's go"

Tails locks his door and checks his phone to see how far the hostiles are from his building. He guides Lettia to a side exit and they narrowly avoid the first hired goon.

The fox looks back and sees three others trying to unlock his window from the outside

The security system won't hold them off for long

Charmy Bee waves to them from a rooftop patio so they climb some stairs and sit at his table. Other teenagers from their school crowd the patio, making Tails harder to see if someone wanted to get to him.

He checks his phone, a camera inside his apartment shows the hostiles have broken in and are rummaging through his property

"You guys thirsty? I need a drink. I'll be back in a second"

Before his friends can answer, Tails gets up and pushes through the crowd, accidentally bumping into other students and knocking over their drinks

A tall football player nicknamed Gin stands in Tails' way "What's your problem, Prower?!"

"Not now, Ginger!" Tails shouts as he tries getting past

"What, you finally grow a pair and wanna fight? Well, c'mon!"

As Gin lunges forward, Tails side steps to the right, ducks under his arms and jumps over the railing to the sidewalk below.

"Yeah, that's what I thought! Don't come back here 'less you wanna catch a beating, dork!"

You're lucky I can't use this on douchebags like you, Gin...

Lettia watches as Tails sprints away from the rooftop party and she takes out her phone to call him. Charmy takes a drink of his Club Soda and looks at her

"I wouldn't bother if I were you, girl. Tails is a very complicated soul and if he wants to be alone, it's best to leave him until he wants to come back"

"I just don't understand why he'd rather isolate himself than to take help from his friends"

"Well, when you've lost everyone special in your life like he has, I'm sure you'd understand why he's cautious as to who he gets close to" Charmy says

Lettia puts her phone down and looks at him "I guess you're right... you're a good friend to him, Charm"

"Oh, you should see us when we get into an argument. It's a different story, then"

Tails jumps up, twists his two tails together and propels himself high into the air. He flies to the roof of his apartment building and pulls out his phone, arming his home defence system

Inside, the 6 hostiles search through Tails' stuff when suddenly a loud BEEP sounds out.

"What'd you do?!" The first thug demands

"Nothing!"

A.I Voice: YOU HAVE 5 SECONDS TO EVACUATE THE PREMISES

"What the hell is that?"

"It's an alarm, jackass!"

YOU HAVE 4 SECONDS TO EVACUATE-

"It's just a scare tactic! Keep searching!"

"Screw this, man!"

-3 SECONDS TO EVACUATE THE PREMISES-

"God damnit, don't chicken out now!"

2 SECONDS-

"It's over here!"

LETHAL FORCE AUTHORIZED

Tails grabs his phone "No, not lethal force! Just stun them!"

All 6 hostiles are zapped by an electrical current that blasts from a hidden conductor in the wall. Every thug yelps in pain then drops to the floor, unconscious.

Tails lets out a sigh of relief and heads inside to assess the damage.

Within half an hour the whole neighbourhood is here watching as police arrest the 6 thugs. Lettia and Charmy run over to Tails, still talking to a police officer

"Oh my goodness, are you alright, Tails?" Lettia asks

"I'm fine, I got home just in time to catch these guys"

The officer looks at the teenage fox "You never did tell me how you caught them, or even knew there was trouble"

"Yeah, well - I installed a security system in my apartment, I'm sure those are legal to have, right?" Tails snaps back

"But, didn't you say you're landlord was on his way here, earlier?" Lettia asks

Damnit!

The cop looks at him closely "Is there something you're not telling me? You in some kinda trouble, kid? It's alright, you can trust us"

Without hesitation Tails says "I'm fine, officer. Thank you for your help, but I really just want to be alone right now"

"Here's my card if you do wanna talk"

Tails takes it and heads back towards the apartment building. Lettia grabs his arm and stops him

"Tails, you're acting weird, is there something-"

"I'm fine. I just have some stuff to sort through, Lettia. Sorry about earlier. I'll see you tomorrow"

The fox heads inside the building, enters his apartment and shuts the door behind him.

God damn you, Lynx... how'd you find me?...

It takes Tails one minute to figure it out. He plugs the SAGE program into his encrypted computer and checks the IP security status: Open

Son of a bitch tracked me as soon as I put SAGE online... alright, let's play this game, Lynx. You wanna track me? Have fun traveling to the Mystic Zone, douche.

Tails' phone starts ringing with multiple text messages incoming

CHARMY: Bro, what's going on?

LETTIA: I just heard what you said online, is that true?

KNUCKLES: You've got some balls to say that

CREAM: Do you really feel that way?

AMY: Tails, what's wrong?

The fox reads all these texts and more as more come in, some are sent from unknown numbers.

Tails frantically checks online to see what everyone's talking about, then he sees it

"Oh my god"

Lynx, you son of a bitch!...