Chapter Three

"Argh!" The Liberators jerked their heads around to see a raccoon wearing a pirate hat sliding down the slide to the HQ. Tails jumped in front of the trespasser.

"State your business!" He said, authority glimmering in his voice. "You're trespassing on the headquarters of the Liberators." The raccoon stood up and brushed himself off.

"Relax, mate, I'm on your side!" Tails, Krystal and Robbie gasped as they saw the raccoon clearly for the first time. He, in fact, wasn't a he-he was a she. A black ponytail bobbed under the pirate hat, and a cutlass hung on the belt she was wearing.

"The name's Stripe," she said. "Cap'n Stripe, to ye!" Krystal shoved her way past Tails and stood in front of the figure.

"We won't answer to you as an authority figure," she replied. "Now, please, if you would, tell us why on Mobius you've came here?" Stripe sat down in one of the nearby chairs.

"Well, for starters, the mate the SwatBots nabbed said that I should say Geo sent me," Robbie looked at Tails with alarm.

"Geo? SwatBots??" Robbie demanded. Tails patted his head.

"Calm down," he said. "Let Stripe explain herself." Robbie sighed and glanced anxiously at the raccoon pirate.

"Aye," Stripe replied. "I saw it with me own eyes. The SwatBots had claimed another victim too. What'd Geo say her name was…Blue?" Krystal looked serious.

"Guys, that means that both Blue and Geo are on their way to Robotropolis to get robotized! We'd better get our tails over there."

"Me lass," Stripe spoke again. "If ye would be so kind…I feel a mite responsible fer this. If ye would allow, I could accompany all of you Liberators." Tails looked gratefully at the raccoon.

"Of course, Stripe," he said. "In fact, we could always use another member on the Liberator's team. What do you say?" The pirate brightened, and puffed out her chest proudly in front of the two-tailed fox.

"Ye've got yerself another part of yer crew!" she proclaimed, snatching her cutlass and waving it high. "Cap'n Stripe will help ye with all the power she's got in her!" Krystal smiled warmly.

"Thank you," she said. Then she turned to Tails.

"I say we pay our parents a visit before we do this," she said. "You know, just in case they want to visit us and we're not there. Tails nodded.

"OK, but we've gotta be quick. With each passing second, Geo and Blue get closer to becoming a robot." Robbie was already dashing toward the slide.

"Then let's go already!" he protested. "If Geo gets turned into a robot…" Tails, Krystal and Stripe followed the small raccoon. Stripe smiled.

"Well, ye've got yerself a pretty cute raccoon there," she grinned. "I fact, he'll make a GREAT part of me crew!"

Tails and Krystal exchanged quizzical glances, unsure of what to make of the odd pirate.

"Sally and Bunnie didn't come back!"

Rotor's voice was heard by Sonic, Antoine and Chuck as the walruses dashed out. "They were supposed to meet me by the Great Oak Slide half and hour ago!" Sonic gasped.

"Rot, what if they got caught by Robuttnik?" he asked seriously. Antoine leapt up.

"Zhen I shall save zem!" he proclaimed. Sonic grabbed his toupee and jerked his back down.

"No, this is my fault," Sonic said, distressed. "I should have gone out into the forest with them, especially when I knew that there was some spy probe out there." Chuck patted his nephew on the back comfortingly.

"Don't blame yourself, lad," he said. "You were upset." Rotor sighed as he leaned on a nearby tree.

"I think Tails leaving the Freedom Fighters has taken a toll on all of us." Antoine nodded as he sheathed is dagger.

"We," he said. "He was a good little fox, lots of promise…" Sonic then blinked and snapped his fingers.

"Wait a second," he said.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Cat," Krystal apologized. The black-clothed cat clutched his forehead.

"I've already almost lost them once," he said. "I…I should have been there…"

"No one blames you for what happened," Tails said. "Things like this happen. I just thought that I would let you know." Hunter stroked his son's tail.

"Well, thank you, Tails," he said. "And the rest of you. We owe you our lives,"

"And our children's lives," Marilyn put in. "Don't worry about us, we're safe down here, and we live off the land."

It was true. After the parents left, they had made a home inside a giant glade of trees, too thick to almost enter without much difficulty. Stripe looked around.

"Wow," she said. "Better 'in lots of places I've lived." Tails nodded in agreement.

"OK, we'd better get going now," he said. "We'll see you guys later." As the parents bid they're farewells, Tails and Stripe walked over to Kris.

"Don't worry Kris, we'll get them back," Tails reassured. Stripe patted her chest.

"We'll getcher kids back, I swear by the pirate code!" Kris smiled musingly.

"Thank you, and give my thanks to the Liberators." He stated. "Just bring them home safe."

As the Liberators walked out, they turned around to head for Robotropolis. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind the team.

"Yo, Tails!"

The two tailed fox spun around to face the remaining Freedom Fighters crossing their arms.

"We know you guys nabbed Sal and Bunnie, ya little dork. Give them back or face the wrath of the Freedom Fighters!" Then Sonic flew into the air and turned into a spin ball, headed right for Tails.