We had made our way back to what remained of Knothole and began our search for anything useful. I knew I should have done this years ago, but the pain was too much...being alone had made me fear what I would find up here.
In all honesty, I was afraid of finding Sonic or Sally's bodies in the rubble. I had many nightmares of this very thing over the years.
The first nightmare I had ensured I would never look. I was afraid and mentally I would have never recovered from the shock had I actually found them lying dead in our home.
I looked up and the cloudy sky that was barely visible thanks to the ample amount of trees and noticed snow beginning to fall.
That was a blessing and a curse. The cold was coming and there would be less patrols...which also meant less of a chance to find anyone to help us.
It also meant less of a chance of being killed...and more time to think about what to do. If we found Nichole and were able to reboot her, this could be a great chance to come up with a plan of action.
"M'lord...should we look for Nichole at the old headquarters?"
"To be honest Drago...I don't know. I was too young and I am not sure if she had Nichole at the time of the battle or not. I do not remember at all."
I turned to Elias. His memories had been returned thanks to the power ring, but who knew if he had any idea.
"Elias...it was a long time ago, and you've been through a lot since then, but do you have any idea where we should look?"
Elias looked around the destroyed main street of our home and pointed at two locations.
"Nichole could be in two places...unless she was on Sally at the time of her capture, but I would guess that she had done everything in her power to keep Nichole away from Robotnik.
I feel we have at least a chance it would be in her room over in that building...or she could be on the mainframe computer in Freedom Fighter headquarters."
Elias pointed at a fully intact building that I knew wasn't headquarters...at least I thought it wasn't.
"Isn't the headquarters over there?" I asked. "What building is this?"
Elias smiled. "The actual HQ. Nichole could be on the computers in there...even if we don't find the portable version."
Drago's eyes went wide. "We had no idea there was a false HQ when I was spying on Knothole. M'lord...I know we didn't even have a clue about a second one. I put explosive in the one everyone knew about."
Elias glared at Drago and I shook my head.
"Drago is a different wolf than he was five years ago. I'm making him pay for his deeds."
Drago nodded. "That's right Elias...I have changed...I am a slave to your cause now. I cannot and will not go against you or Tails. Ever."
Elias cleared his throat.
"Well...anyway...I say we check the HQ first. It might hold the most information that we can use."
"Lead the way Elias, you know more about it than either of us."
Elias motioned us forward and we both followed him into the building. There was not much in the hall...just a desk and a bookcase. Elias removed a book from its place on the shelf and I watched with surprise as the case swung open; leading to a set of stairs.
I took out my flashlight and handed it to Elias. "No offense, Elias...you are the one that's been here before...you should take lead."
"Thanks Tails, there should be a fuse box that we can use to get power back to the headquarters. There is a generator that should still work as it was solar powered. Five years is a long time, but I have faith that things will still work."
"Faith...there is a word that I haven't uttered in years." I said with a sigh.
I felt Drago's arm on my shoulder.
"None of us have had much of it M'lord...but things are changing. Keep your hopes up."
Elias led us down the stairs and made a bee-line for the power box. He shined the light in the box and let out a whoop when he realized it was going to work.
"Hang on boys! We are in business!"
Elias flipped the switch and the room came to life. The lights on the walls of the stairs came on first, then the overheads in what had to be Sally's command center. There was dust and cobwebs everywhere, which made sense...no one had been in here for five years.
"We might want to get the dust off the computers before we turn them on." I said.
Drago immediately went to work on getting the dust off of the electronics and I joined him. Elias walked around the room and took it all in. He had probably spent many hours and days in this very room. I myself had no memories of this room, but it was clear he did.
Elias walked over to a desk and picked up an old picture frame. It was clear it had sentimental value to him.
"What's that Elias?" I asked.
"Picture of the whole gang...look, there you are...on Sonic's shoulders."
I looked at the picture and held back tears. It wasn't the time for them. There would be time later...I could tonight...when I was alone.
Elias put the picture in his pack and smiled.
"That's one thing worthwhile. Let's see what else we can find."
I walked over to Drago, but watched as Elias sat down to begin looking through the desk.
Elias opened a drawer and pulled out a moth eaten vest. The look in his eyes told me exactly what that was.
Sally's vest. At least one of them.
Elias held the vest to him for a few seconds. Drago and I stood and watched silently. What could we say? I had loved Sally, but she was his sister...I was just an orphan that she felt sorry for.
Then I did know what to say. Sonic was my brother...it was the same feeling.
"I know how you feel Elias...trust me. I miss Sonic every single day."
Elias smiled. "Thanks...we will get them back. Or die trying."
I turned back the computer and Drago had finished cleaning it up.
"M'lord, it's as ready as it is gonna be."
"Ok Drago...let's boot it up. Cross your fingers."
"As you wish M'lord. Let's hope it works."
Drago turned on the old computer and I heard the fan sputter and groan before the computer finally got working. It was loud at first, but after a few minutes it began to work properly.
The computer screen lit up with a loading screen and I sat down at the desk. I pulled out my portable computer and attached it to make sure we got any info this thing had. I was concerned we might only get one shot before this thing shorted out.
I felt Elias standing behind me at this point.
"Tails...I've never run that computer. It was all Sally and Rotor. Do you...know anything about this-"
Elias stopped in mid sentence when he realized I was already becoming acquainted with the computer at a rapid pace. I had already found the maps of the forest and the locations of other Freedom Fighter bases. Had Robotnik found this, we would have been doomed all those years ago.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Elias's look of wonder at my abilities.
"Sonic was right about you. You really are a genius. I've never seen anyone take to new technology like that before. Not even Rotor."
I smiled at that comment. This was certainly not new tech...not to me.
"Well...I took a genome serum a few years ago. It helped me gain both strength and more intelligence, but I always have been good with electronics...just something that makes sense to me."
"How did you know about that serum?" Elias asked. "It was a secret that almost no one knew about."
I shrugged. "Found it four years ago and took it. Had nothing to lose."
Suddenly a voice emitted from the computer.
"It has been almost eighteen hundred days since my last activation. I also cannot access most of Knothole's databases. Sally had informed me that Robotnik was attacking. I take that has occurred."
That was Nichole's voice.
"Nichole! This is Elias! Sally's gone...almost everyone is gone. Tails reactivated you in hopes of getting you to help us!"
"She had assumed she would be taken when I was last deactivated." Nichole asked. "Has she been killed? Please say that she is alive."
"No. Robotocized along with most of the rebels. Tails recently brought my memories back to me and I brought him here in hopes that Sally had left you here."
"Tails? You mean Miles, the little fox boy?"
I blushed. "Not anymore Nichole. I've grown up."
"Elias, give me a second to regain my physical form."
Sure enough after a few seconds, Nichole stood before us. She kept the same Lynx form that I remembered from all those years ago.
I looked her over and she seemed a lot cuter to me than when I was a kid. I almost blushed when she realized I was staring.
"Hello Elias...Miles...and...uh...wolf." Nichole said. "Drago? Is that your name? I have records of a wolf that fits your description."
Drago nodded. "Yes...I am Drago Wolf."
Nichole looked at Elias and frowned. "This wolf has betrayed us all before. Sally informed me of this before I was last shut down. He is part of the reason Knothole was found! He helped destroy everything we fought for!"
Drago whimpered.
"Indeed...I was not a good person back then. The Master changed me and made me into a good wolf. I will not hurt anyone here again."
Nichole's eyes began to glow as she looked at Drago, and then turned to me with a look of understanding.
"You have changed him. That is clear by his brain waves. A just punishment for what he did. Losing your mind and becoming enslaved is what he deserved."
How in the world did she know he was under mind control? Nichole had more tricks up her sleeve than I thought.
I smiled. "Well, I was all alone...I needed someone to help me. I had to do something. He just seemed like the right choice."
"You know I was here the entire time Miles. You never had to be alone."
I frowned. "Yeah...well...I couldn't face Knothole by myself...that's why I needed Drago."
"You managed to block his own thoughts and wants with a neural inhibitor. I am surprised you knew how to make one. You were so young when this all occurred."
"I learned." I said. "I had to do something...I was about to lose it...I couldn't stand the loneliness anymore."
Nichole looked at Elias and I for what seemed like an awkward amount of time .
"I see. You have the genome serum in your blood...and Elias...I can't seem to scan you. That is odd."
"Well...that could be because he isn't Mobian. He was made into some type of Nano-being. I don't know how to explain it...but I'll send the video to you...it explains it better than I can."
I sent the video to Nichole and I could tell she was accessing it almost immediately. After a few moments she ran to Elias and put his hand on his arm.
"Oh my...Elias...what did Robotnik do to you?"
Elias shook his head.
"Messed me up pretty bad...but I'm ok now. I am myself now at least."
"The pain you've been through. I can't believe that Robotnik has sank even lower than ever before."
"I know...but I'm able to think for myself...thanks to Tails and the pain is behind me. At least I can feel things and I'm not cold...like the past four or so years of my life that I cannot remember."
"Elias...I am sorry...I wish I could have been more help to you and your sister."
Elias looked down and shrugged. "There is still a chance. We've got a chance to fix all of this."
"You are correct of course." Nichole said softly. "So...do you know where Sally's pocket computer is?"
I shook my head. "No. We haven't found it. I assumed she tried to hide it before she was captured. I think Elias might have an idea, but we wanted to get you online first."
"I think it might be in her room, but we haven't checked yet. Although all of Knothole is basically gone."
Nichole's eyes went wide and she disappeared.
After a few seconds she returned.
"Ok...this requires drastic measure." Nichole said. "I will stay in this physical form so I can be of help to you while you are in Knothole. I will also join with Tails's computer until you find Sally's. Please let me know what you want me to do to help."
I smiled. Nichole was amazing. No wonder Sally put so much faith in her.
"Can you go through the files on my computer in the underground headquarters? I found several folders in one of Robotnik's data centers. We are trying to find any one that is still alive and we are also looking for ways to control Mobians like Drago here. I took files that can help us do these things."
Nichole nodded. "Miles I will help you the best I can. I am going to transfer to the other base and once I am gone, you can shut this computer down. I'll meet you all back at your new base."
I nodded. "Ok...thanks Nichole."
The lynx returned to the computer and I turned to Elias.
"Well...she's still quite useful. That went better than I'd have ever thought!"
Elias smiled. "Indeed...and she seems to trust us. Which I was unsure of as the new Freedom Fighters consist of a Robian, a fox and a brainwashed wolf."
I laughed. "True. Not much like the old group right now are we?"
My pocket computer chirped.
"Miles. I have gone over the data. I need you to all return asap. I have a few suggestions."
"Ok Nichole, we will be back in a few minutes."
Drago howled. "You heard the lady! Let's get back!"
Once we returned, Nichole was waiting for us.
"Took you guys long enough! I have some good news for you already! Drago here had a few friends. Not many, but a few and they are scattered around this area. I found Robotnik's files on them. I am surprised he had this many detailed notes, but it looks like we might be able to pick up at least one new recruit."
"Who is it?" Elias asked. "Who is still nearby?"
Nichole smiled as the computer screen showed our soon to be recruit.
"Lightning Lynx." Elias said. "He could indeed be useful. He is fast and decently smart."
Drago looked at the screen and growled. "That boy...I remember him. He was my friend before...M'lord...I can help you obtain his assistance. Please allow me to help you!"
I put my hand on the wolf's broad shoulder and smiled. "Of course you will help me. He will be easier to bring over when he sees you with me, but if I can get him before he sees us, all the better."
"Are you going to make him understand? Do what you did to me?"
"I am."
I still had a control chip in my pack. I didn't have much to do...we could leave within the hour.
"Nichole? Where is he?"
"I have downloaded his location into your computer, Tails. He is patrolling near the outskirts of old Knothole."
"Old Knothole. The first camp we created at the end of the great war?" I asked.
"That is correct Miles. It is approximately three miles from here. Robotnik moved his patrols after one of his bases went up in smoke."
I smiled. "I wonder who did that?"
"M'lord...you and I did that. Have you already forgotten?"
"Drago...I was being sarcastic."
"Oh. I don't really get sarcasm anymore. I am sorry M'lord."
"It's ok Drago. As long as you back me up on this new mission, we should get a new recruit today."
Drago cracked his knuckles. "He will join...one way or another M'lord. He will see the light...and will serve you...just like me."
"Tails, I am going to try and get more information on Robotnik's new nano-machine tech. That lynx shouldn't be tough to convert...considering you have one of his friends on your side."
I pulled out the control collar I had made and smiled.
"Trust me Elias...it won't be hard at all."
"Just be careful kid. You are vital to the cause. We can't lose you."
That made me chuckle as just a few weeks ago there was literally no one else but me.
"Miles, if you need me, I will be with you at all times now. I will try and give you up to date information as I find it."
I smiled and blushed again.
"Thanks Nichole...it's nice to know you'll be there for us."
Drago and I found some winter gear and made our way back into the wintry landscape. The snow had picked up and the temperature had dropped significantly.
I put up my hood and Drago did the same.
The lynx would obey and join us...no matter what.
To be continued...
