The plan to clear Sonic's name is underway.

Each hero will play a different part in the plan.

Will it succeed?

Chapter 4: The Plan: Station Square Suspicions

After discussing the plan, Tails and Cream went around the city of Station Square to find out if anyone had seen anything suspicious. They were having no luck so far. Then…

"Psst. Hey, over here." A mysterious voice called.

"Huh? Who's there?" Cream asked.

"Over here." The voice said. It was coming from a back alley.

Tails and Cream entered the alley, where someone was waiting in the dark.

"Who's there? Who are you?" Tails asked.

"You can call me Z." The shady guy said.

"Okay, Z." Tails said. "So, what do you have for us?"

"I have information that may help you with this 'Sonic' character." Z said.

"Alright, we're listening." Cream said.

"Good. Just don't tell anyone." Z told them.

"Don't worry." Tails told him.

"Okay. Here's what I know. Something's not right with Draco. It's as if someone's forcing him to do what he's doing." Z told them.

"And who might this guy be?" Cream asked.

"I…have no idea. The mayor's meetings with him are private. Nobody is allowed in."

"How do you know this?" Tails asked.

"I've noticed."

"Well, that settles that. But still, we need to know if anyone's seen anything suspicious." Tails told Cream.

"I may be able to help you with that." Z spoke up. "I have a few friends that tend to know what's going on in the city. I can't point them out, but you'll know them when you find them."

"And how are we going to know?" Tails asked.

"Do you see this brown neon wristband? My friends have ones just like this one. All of us are connected to Mayor Draco in some way. Find them, and they may know more." Z explained. "Now you all must get going. I feel it's only a matter of time before something bad happens."

"Right. Let's go, Cream." Tails said.

They leave to find Z's friends.

"Now that they know some of what's going on, I think I should get back to the agency." Z said.

Tails and Cream continued their search. After asking a few more people about anything suspicious, they heard a voice whisper to them.

"Over here. I'm in this house." The voice said.

Tails and Cream went in the house. It was dark as to prevent this person's identity.

"So, are you one of Z's friends?" Tails asked.

"Yes. But that's not your concern. I have more information."

"And who are you?" Cream asked.

"Call me Y."

"Alright, Y. What do you have for us?" Tails asked.

"Well, I only have one thing to tell you. It involves someone that's not from this world."

"What? What are you talking about?" Tails asked.

"So many questions, so little time. Well, the real culprit is not from this world. He's making sure Draco follows his orders."

"Then it's not Draco's fault." Tails said.

"Correct. But I don't know who it is." Y told them.

"Well, we'll just have to find your other friend." Cream said.

"Yes. He has a brown neon wristband just like this one. You can't miss it."

"Alright. Well, I guess we must be on our way." Tails said.

"Good luck." Y told them as they left.

Tails and Cream left to find the other shady guy.

"It's time to get back to the agency." Y told himself.

Tails and Cream were walking along, asking a few more people about any suspicious people. Nobody found anything out of the ordinary. Then, as they were passing another alley…

"Over here." The voice quietly called out to them.

"I guess this must be the last one." Tails told Cream.

"Well, let's see what he has to say." Cream responded.

They duck into the dark alley.

"Good. You're here. Just call me X."

"So, X, what can you tell us?" Cream asked.

"Well, I don't think Gerald is actually Sonic's brother."

"What?" Tails asked, surprised.

"I don't know, but something doesn't add up."

"Well, we won't ask him about it, but how would you know?" Cream asked.

"I just have a feeling he's not who he claims to be."

"Alright. But one question: Who are you?" Tails asked.

"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt." X said.

He took off his coat and stepped into a light.

"Espio?" Cream and Tails said together.

"Yes. Y and Z are actually Charmy and Vector. We managed to get this information by someone who works for the mayor. I believe it was his advisor. He eavesdropped on a small part of the conversation between the mayor and the one he was talking with. How, I don't know." Espio explained.

"I thought you wouldn't be helping us." Tails told him.

"Well, we changed our minds. Besides, if we hadn't gotten this information, you wouldn't have been able to succeed." Espio told them.

"Alright. Just one question, though: How much is this gonna cost us?" Tails asked.

"Believe it or not, I think he's doing this for no charge. Just this once, though. Oh, and by the way, about Gerald, well…that wasn't true. I just needed to give out information." Espio explained.

"Well, we've done our mission. I think it's time we get back to Sonic's house." Tails said.

"Let's go." Cream said.

They head off, hand in hand.

"Well, I think it's time to see what Charmy and Vector are doing." Espio told himself, then left.

In the shadows, Gerald watches Espio leave. He had decided to stay in the city. Rector allowed it.

"They still don't know. That's good. They'll find out soon enough." Gerald thought to himself.

End of Chapter 4

So, X, Y, and Z were Espio, Charmy, and Vector. The information they got is sure to help out the heroes.

And just who is Gerald? What's he hiding? Is there something he knows that the others don't? Find out in a few chapters. Next time, we'll see what Jet and the Rogues find out.

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