Several weeks had passed since Guntiver and Lightning joined our ever growing rebel force. Lightning had not only found the food he told us about, but he had manged to figure out the entire forest Swat Bot patrols in less than two weeks. It had been odd to feel safe walking through the Great forest, but nevertheless it was true...I truly felt safe for this first time in my life.

I wasn't sure if we should let down our guard...even if we felt safe. We didn't have many in our force and if any one of us went down...we would almost have to start all over again. Each one of us had vital abilities that made us special.

For example...Guntiver was an arctic wolf that could handle the cold weather. He was also super strong and we all really liked him already. He was brave and only wanted to find his lost friend. I trusted him fully and had already gone on several scouting trips with him.

Drago Wolf was still with us and attached to me and the hip. The control I had over him was complete and total. His sense of smell was impeccable and was blindly loyal to me. I loved him like he was part of my family and he...well...he loved me, but it was forced upon him and I no longer felt bad for doing it to him.

Elias was working mostly at the base, but was vital to those of us in the field. He was trying to find more recruits for us, but so far had not managed to find anyone that was able to assist us. However, Elias was able to break into Robotnik's computer system using Nichole, our cyber lynx and our most important ally.

Nichole was Sally's AI and had thankfully decided to help he. She wanted to ensure we were able to free Mobius from Robotnik's tyranny...mostly to save Sally, but to be honest...if it caused her to help us...then that was fine with me. I also was starting to think I had a crush on her...which of course would never be possible...but a guy could dream...

I had been relaxing with a cup of coffee while Guntiver and Drago discussed hunting or something...I was ignoring them, as there was nothing about chasing down small animals for sport...

Before I fell asleep from boredom, Elias put his hand on my shoulder and I turned to see a grim look on his face.

"Tails. Nichole and I need you."

I stood up and the two wolves didn't even notice at first.

"Sure, I was a third wheel in this conversation anyway."

I turned and followed Elias into the command center. I heard Drago running down the hall as he realized I had left and that made me smile for some reason.

"Ok Elias, what have you found?"

Nichole appeared and did not look happy at all.

"Tails...we've found someone out in the Great Forrest. I'm not sure if you remember him or not, but here is some footage of him near old Knothole."

I watched as an unfamiliar Mobian went into the secret bunker we had found a few weeks ago. The video then switched to inside the bunker and I got a much clearer look at the Mobian in question.

"Tails, do you recognize him?" Elias asked. "Nichole and I both do, but we wanted to know if you'd seen him while you were here by yourself."

I shook my head. "He looks familiar. Wasn't he part of the Royal Guard?"

"That is correct Miles. The Mobian in that video used to be in charge of the Royal Guard. His name is Geoffrey St. John."

My eyes went wide. I knew that name. Geoffrey had betrayed us...or at least that had been the rumor. I had never found any proof.

Drago growled. "I know him. He tried to get us to attack Knothole once...told us not to hurt anyone...this was before we joined with Robotnik and were just causing problems for the government. I think he was trying to scare officials into enacting curfews for non combatants...my memories aren't really what they used to be...but he seemed to care about the safety of his people...in a weird fascist way."

Nichole nodded her head. "Drago is correct. While Geoffrey did betray us...he thought he was doing it to help Knothole. Something changed in him and to this day I'm not sure what caused him to snap."

Elias turned off the tape and leaned against the console.

"Tails...I want you to hunt him down. Take Guntiver with you...Lightning will stay in contact with you as well. He will be keeping an eye on any troop movements near old Knothole. You should probably take Drago as well...you might need his nose if Geoffrey leaves shelter."

Drago folded his arms.

"I'd have gone anyway. I'm not sitting here while Tails goes out on a mission. I must protect him from danger and that can't happen if I'm sitting here."

I smirked. "True, Drago probably wouldn't enjoy staying behind. I think having both wolves with me on this mission will be beneficial. I won't lie...this guy has survived on his own for all this time...he's gotta be dangerous."

Elias looked away. "He wasn't always that way..."

Nichole put her hand on Elias's hand.

"Maybe he's changed. He is using an Acornian shelter near our old home. Something at least is keeping him nearby. Perhaps whatever caused his mental breakdown has been solved."

I checked my gun and put it back in my holster.

"That...or he's crazy as a loon. I'm gonna need to make another control device...I do not think I trust this guy. However, I'll bring him back alive...he just might not be the same guy you all remember when I'm done with him."

Elias sat down at his console and sighed.

"That might be for the best. Good luck Tails...St. John is a good soldier, we could use him."

"Drago...come on, Let's get Guntiver and head out."

As I walked out the door I paused.

"Elias?"

"Yeah Tails?"

"I'll bring him home. Don't worry."

"Thanks Tails. Be careful out there."

I patted Drago on the back.

"Don't worry, I've got Drago and Guntiver. I'll be fine."

It was colder than our last few trips out into the Great Forrest and I was glad that we had the arctic gear on top of my own resistances to the weather. Tails had shown me a picture of the Mobian in question. I did not know him, but I had heard his name more than once. I wanted to contact Master Robotnik...perhaps he knew of this Mobian. I wanted to be useful to Tails...and I needed to check in. I feared that they'd know I had been giving false information if I didn't get back to them soon.

I looked at the two boys with me and sighed.

How could I keep from betraying them. Drago was like a long lost cousin and Tails was just a nice kid. I didn't want to hurt him...but I feared it was going to happen sooner than later. My head had started hurting a few days ago and I knew that was the call of my Master.

I had to get away from them for a few minutes. I perked my ears and stopped Tails.

"Guys...I hear something. Stay here. Drago...keep Tails safe."

Drago nodded. "I didn't hear anything, but ok. Let me know what you found."

I jumped into the trees and got far enough away to use my radio.

I pulled the radio from my jacket and prayed.

"Guntiver to Lord Robotnik. Come in please. This is Guntiver. Respond."

The line was silent for what seemed like hours.

"Guntiver? You have not reported in for days. Where are you?"

I swayed in the tree. It was Robotnik. My mind spun. I had to fight him.

"I...I'm in the Forrest. I've been hunting a Mobian for days. I wanted to report that he was the one I found at the shelter from before."

"Really...if you find this Mobian...bring him to me. I will make him into another nano controlled Robian...just like you."

I tensed.

"Master, the Mobian's name is Geoffrey St. John. Does that name sound familar?"

The line was silent and I feared that I had gotten the name wrong.

"Guntiver...did you say St. John? He is alive?"

"Yes Master...he is alive. I am hunting him now."

"Stay away for now Guntiver. I am concerned about what he will do if he catches you. He is dangerous. Wait until I can get you some assistance. I want you to follow him...but do not be seen."

"As you wish Master. Guntiver out."

I fell against the tree. My head was throbbing. The Master...his voice...I wanted to call him back...tell him about Tails and Drago...give him a reason to be proud of me. I just wanted my Master to love me...

I smacked my head against the tree. That wasn't me...that was the nano machines...I had new friends...new family...Couldn't betray them. I...I had to save Augustus...the Master could do that. I just needed to give the location of Knothole...and I knew the location now. I could finish the job...

I bashed my head into the tree again. No...no...can't...betray them.

I fell from the tree and had there not been the layer of snow on the ground, I would have broken my spine.

Wait...I'm not Mobain...it would have healed anyway.

I grabbed my head and rolled around in the snow. My head was killing me...why...what had I done to deserve this...Master...please...don't make me hurt my new friends...

I felt hands on my body...my jacket being unzipped.

"Guntiver? Guntiver! Are you ok? Did you get shot? What is wrong?"

It was Tails. My friend...no...enemy...Master wants him...

"Guntiver?" What is wrong? Tell us!"

I couldn't talk...my mind...hurt...Master...help me...

I screamed.

"Master! Help me!"

I heard Tails gasp and his hands quickly left my body.

"Guntiver...who is your Master? What are you talking about?"

Couldn't tell...he'd never trust me again. I had to regain control...

Tails pulled my Radio from my pocket...I couldn't stop him...or explain myself.

"What is this?" Tails screamed. "This isn't one of ours!"

I couldn't answer him...the pain in my head was too much.

"Guntiver? What have you done? What is this for? Answer me damn it!"

I felt Drago grab me. I was unable to talk...I wanted to tell them what I had done...

"Guntiver...you need to answer him...now."

I focused all of my strength and managed to speak.

"I...try...keep...Robotnik...away..."

"Robotnik?" Tails screamed. "You have a direct line to him? What did you tell him?"

"You...not...here...trying...protect new...friends..."

I gasped in pain. This was far harder than I thought it would be.

"Tails...I...on...your...side...please...believe me..."

"You are controlled by Robotnik. You have a direct line to him. How can I believe you?"

Drago threw me to the ground. I rolled back over and looked at the boy. His eyes...dear lord the hate I felt in them. The betrayal I sensed in them.

"Because...you'd...be dead...if I did what he ordered."

My head was clearing. I was able to stand up and brush the snow from my coat and try to defend my honor.

"Tails...I'm so sorry that happened...the truth...the truth is that..."

This could kill me...if Robotnik found out.

Screw it.

"The truth is...that Robotnik sent Metal Sonic to the Arctic. He blamed me for an attack on one of his bases a little over a month ago. I didn't know what they were talking about, but they insisted that you were dead and only I could have done it."

Tails took a step back. He and Drago exchanged looks. I knew they had done it...I knew it.

"So...it WAS you that bombed that base. It is your fault that I was made into some freak of nature...I didn't want to believe it. I like you...I respect you...but...damn it you took away my freedom...each minute I fight Robotnik's power it pains me. I just wanted to hang with you and

your friends...to help you...but it is getting harder by the day to fight him..."

I fell to my knees. The pain returned.

"I...I don't know how much longer I can fight him. I am telling you all the truth...he changed me...I am not Mobian...I'm made of nanomachines...I don't understand how...or what he did...but I'm not Mobian...please forgive me. Help me. I've almost lost myself several times in the past week."

Tails put his hand on my arm and pulled me back up.

"I've got one idea. Elias had the same thing happen to him. We can solve this when we return home. Can you fight a little longer?"

I nodded. "I...I think so."

"We've got to find Geoffrey first. If you can't control yourself, I'll use the collar we brought on you until I can get you back home."

I nodded. "Whatever you have to do."

Suddenly my ear perked and I thought I heard something fired in our direction.

I grabbed Tails and took him to the ground. I felt something stick in my leg. It hurt...which actually relieved me. I could still feel real pain in this form.

"Tails stay down!" I yelled.

"Drago? Can you see where that came from?"

The wolf had been paying attention to Tails and didn't worry about his own safety. I tried to get to him, but a bolt hit him in the shoulder. The Wolf growled and turned towards the trees.

Another bolt was fired and I grabbed it in mid air.

He was in the trees.

Drago had already sensed him by this point and had jumped into a tree. Within a few moments Drago and another Mobian fell from the tree and hit the ground with a large thud. It seemed like our attacker had been knocked out by the fall. Perhaps he'd hit his head...

Whatever, we had gotten out of this with minimal injuries. Drago was strong and would walk that wound off.

I ripped the bolt from my leg and threw it down. I then helped Tails to his feet.

"Thanks Guntiver. You could have let me die."

"I could have. But, then I'd have lost a loyal friend."

Tails and I walked over to Drago who had tied the Mobian's hands with rope he'd brought in his travel bag.

"M'lord, this is the one we've been looking for. St. John. It HAS to be him."

Tails bent down by the skunk (sure enough it was Geoffrey) and slapped him hard in the face.

The skunk moaned and his eyes slowly opened. Once they focused he jumped up and realized his hands were tied.

"What the hell?" The skunk yelled. "Who are you people?"

Drago grabbed Geoffrey from behind and held him in place.

"Now Geoffrey...don't tell me you don't remember me..." Drago growled. "I haven't changed that much in the past few years."

The skunk then elbowed Drago and knocked him away. The boy had broken his bonds...I noticed a small knife in his hand. I pulled my gun. This would stop.

"Look...I don't know you...but enough is enough. Show me your hands and drop the weapon."

The skunk dropped the knife and sighed.

"Look...I don't have any money...or any extra food. I'm just traveling to my shelter. I can take you there if you need supplies. I have a little food and extra clothes, but nothing else. Just don't kill me over something so simple as this."

Tails laughed.

"Kill you? Who do you think we are?"

The skunk looked around at all three of us.

"Are...are you not raiders?"

Tails's eyes bulged.

"You seriously don't remember me? Or Drago?"

The skunk shook his head.

"I have no idea who you are. Although many years ago I recall seeing a two tailed fox brought into Knothole...but that was so long ago and the whole place is gone now."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This guy...someone that caused hundreds to be turned into Robians...didn't remember Tails or Drago?

"You do not remember Tails Prower? He was friends with Sonic...Elias...Sally. Do any of those people ring a bell?"

The skunk turned to me.

"Impossible. I was the commander of the Royal Guard. I have no knowledge of any of you. Sonic and Sally are dead. Don't try to trick me."

Tails gasped. "Dead? Do you have proof of that? They aren't dead!"

"They are all dead and Knothole was destroyed. Everything I was supposed to protect was destroyed so many years ago."

The skunk grabbed for something in his pack. I didn't want to shoot him and he threw something before I could react. A blinding flash happened and my eyes began to burn and water. By the time my eyes refocused the skunk was gone.

Tails threw down his cap in anger.

"Damn it! He got away."

He turned to Drago and I could tell he was confused.

"Drago...you knew him...right? Was he like this back then?"

Drago shook his head. "Nope. He was a lot more held together back then. Something has certainly happened to him in the past five years."

I turned towards old Knothole.

"Guys...he has to be heading towards the shelter. We need to hurry. Robotnik thinks that is where the rebels are hiding out. We can't let them get him. Not now. He's seen us. My cover would be ruined."

Tails grabbed his cap and growled.

"Damn him. Drago do you have his scent?"

The wolf nodded. "Yup. Follow me."

The three of us started running. I wasn't sure how much time we had...but I knew it wasn't a lot. I hoped I hadn't sealed Geoffrey's death warrant, but if I had to choose who died...it would be him over my new friends.

We had little time. Robotnik would be on his way. We had to save this guy...regardless if he wanted it or not.