Only one day and I'm done with this chapter? I work fast. Maybe I can have another one out by tomorrow. So please sit back and enjoy!
PS: Sonic Characters and Locations (c) SEGA
Somewhere in the press only zone Mina was moving around, attempting not to be seen by anyone she should know. She was also listening in to the reports, seeing if there was any new information.
"While it may have looked like Beirut, it was in fact, Empire City where man and nature have collided with brute force.
"The President today declared a state of emergency and has issued disaster relief funds to Empire City."
"...rumors continue to mount as to the origin of this, perhaps, lost dinosaur..." No real new information. Mina wasnt surprised. She was more frustrated that she hadn't found Tails yet.
"having shut down the G.U.N in the evacuation, foreign diplomats are demanding an international coalition be assembled to track the creature." Mina recongized that voice. She ducked out of the way so Antoine didnt see her. "Maintaining a total media blackout, officials remain silent this evening as to their progress in containing this creature continue." The crowd of reporters then swamped the convoy of vehicles trying to make their way back to HQ.
Tails was right inside one vehicle as as this happened. A neon sign labeled Pharmacy caught his attention. He looked down at the blood sample he had, then an idea came to him.
"It's okay, I'll get out here." He told his driver, stepping out to the media, who werent interested in him. Pushing his way through, Tails saw what a circus the whole thing had become. Across the crowd, Mina finally caught eye of Tails who finally made it to the Pharmacy.
"Can I help you, young man?" The person behind the counter asked.
"Do you have any home pregnancy tests? Especially ones that test for catastrophic hormones or clomiphene citrate." Tails asked. The lady behind the counter chuckled then laid six different off the shelf test down.
"This is all we've got."
"I'll take them all."
"You must have quite some harem." Tails turned around at whoever was talking. He couldnt believe what he was seeing.
"Mina? Is that you? Hi, hello. You ook, wow, uh, how've you been?" He said, trying to break the ice.
"It's good to see you, Tails." The Pharmacist handed Tails his change. Taking his test, he walked out with Mina.
"So you made it."
"What?" Tails pointed to her fake ID badge.
"You're a reporter. That's what you always wanted to be, right? I'm happy for you. Really, I am."
"Yeah, well..." Mina said nervously, not bringing up the fact she was lying. "So, you still picking apart cockroaches?"
No, I'm into earthworms now. You wouldn't be interested. They're real "boring" creatures. Very reliable, dependable, no surprises..." Mina was taking the hint.
"You're still mad at me, aren't you?"
"Well...you just left me without a phone call, a letter, nothing. All this time. Yeah, I guess I'm still a little mad." Tails muttered, causing Mina to look at her feet.
"That was eight years ago. Some people change, you know."
"Most people don't." Tails countered.
"I'm sorry you feel that way." Mina said, having her feelings hurt. She turned and began walking off, until Tails regretted his behavior.
"Mina." The mongoose paused. "I'm sorry. You're right. Eight years is a long time. Can I offer you a cup of tea?"
"Sure. I'd like that." She said with a smile
"Mina and Tails sitting in a tree..." Charmy sang.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Vector finished.
"Why did I invite you guys again?" Tails said, having trouble hiding his embarassment.
"Why did you pair yousrelf with Mina Tails? Trying to tell us something?" Knuckles asked with a smirk. Mina leaned in, interested on where this was going.
"Here's what happened next!" Tails said quickly.
Tails had lead Mina back to his tent, with a private mini-lab set up for his test.
"One, thing, though. Who'd you get pregnant?" Mina asked. Tails decided not to answer that. "I still can't believe it. How does a guy go from an anti-nuke activists to working for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?" She asked.
"When you and I use to attend rallies in college, we helped to create awareness. But from the inside now I can actually effect change." Tails said pointedly. "I never lost my idealism."
"And exactly what changes are you trying to effect?"
"I have this theory that we're inadvertently creating new species as a direct result of what we've done to nature." Tails said.
"And you think this creature is one of them?"
"Yes. The first of its kind. I found this blood sample earlier this evening..."
"Blood sample? How close did you get to that thing?" Tails looked at her.
"I got pretty close." Mina could tell he was serious.
"What else do you know about it?" Tails finished his concoction, adding the blood sample into it. He takes the piece of litmus paper from one of the home test boxes and dips it in.
"Well, we know he eats fish, he's of reptile genus, he's a burrower, he's amphibious and..." Tails looked at the test, and frowned confused. "...he's pregnant." Mina couldnt believe what she was hearing.
"Are you sure?" Tails gathered his materials, very excited.
"Well, obviously these tests weren't designed for this but fundamentally they're looking for the same hormonal patterns that would indicate pregnancy."
"I don't get it. If it's the first of its kind, how can it be pregnant? Doesn't he need a mate?"
"Not if he reproduces a sexually." Mina frowned.
"Where' the fun in that?" Tails ignored the statement.
"The ultimate expression of evolution, it reproduces asexually. Think about it, all kinds of creatures have been known to travel great distances for reproduction. That's why he came to Empire City. Like every species of insufficient progenitors, he's nesting!"
"Nesting?"
"Yes. Do you realize that a creature like this could lay as many as a dozen eggs at a time!" The thought horrified Mina. Tails had already gone before sticking his head back inside the tent.
"Forgive me but I've got to get this into the lab, to confirm all this. I'll be right back." Now alone, Mina couldnt help but poke around for a bit. She opened one of his cases, and found photos of them back from their college days tape to the front. Surprised that Tails still kept them, Mina was touched by this Feeling guilty she quickly closedthe case and sits back down. As she does she notices a video tape labeled first sighting. Unable to resist, she puts it in and turns on the t.v. The shot of the Chun-nan Cook from earilier is shown. She hits the fast forward and the monitor shows the footprints and the cargo ship Mina's torn at what to do. She then made her decision. Making sure she wasnt seen, she quickly tucked the tape under her arm, and left before Tails could?
"Now you're labeling me as a bad guy?" Mina asked.
"Sorry, but it had to be done."
"What happens when word get's out?" Sonic asked.
"Well..."
...which is why in this case "all the kings horses and all the kings men" may not be able to put the big apple together again. Mina Mongoose, ECCN." Mina finished, then looked over to Sonic and the editor. "So, what do you think?"
"It's good. It's a real good piece. But how'd you get a hold of this material?" Mina convered her own mix emotions.
"Like you said, "Good guys finish last." With that see then took the tape and ran off, leaving Sonic concerned and worried. Rushing to the ECCN truck, she spotted her station manager Murray. "Murray, I need you to look at this tape."
"Not now, Mina, we've about to go live with the morning report."
"You're going to want to include this. I've got exclusive footage of other places this thing has attacked." She had Murray's attention.
"You do? Who's story is this?"
"Mine!" Mina said proudly.
One of Shadow's team mates obsevered what was happening down below the street. Shadow himself was busy listening in to a very imprtant conversation.
"Anything?" Epsio asked.
"Something's happeneing." Shadow said.
"...Major Knuckles, what makes you believe another attempt to gun that creature down will work?" A male voice asked the echidna. Tails moved into the tent, taking his seat next to Blaze.
"General Anderson, the problem was the terrain. If we lure him out into a more open area such as this portion of Central Park..." He pointed to the spot on the map "We should be able to take him down."
"Last time you didn't even scratch it!" Eggman shouted furious.
"That's not true. Our worm guy, er, I mean, Dr. Tatopoulos found blood." All eyes fell upon Tails, still arranging his papers. Nervously, Tails stood up.
"Well, yes. I did. Clearly he was injured and bled.
"You see, all we need to do is get a better shot at it with weapons that don't rely on heat seeking..."
"Um, excuse me, sir, but the situation's more complicated than that." Knuckles turned to Tails. "The blood I recovered revealed that the creature is either about to lay eggs or already has."
"Are you trying to tell us there's another one of those things out there?" Eggman asked.
"I don't believe so."
"Then how can it be pregnant? What is this, the "virgin lizard?"" Laughter filled the room.
"No, it reproduces asexually. That's why we must find the nest. If we don't, dozens will be born, each one capable of laying eggs of its own. Very quickly we could be looking at an enormous population."
"So after we kill the creature we'll begin a search for the nest." Knuckles said
"It may be too late by then. These eggs will hatch very quickly."
"How could you possible know that?" Silver asked.
"The fish. The fish we found down in the subway. He's not gathering all that food for himself. He's preparing to feed his young." Back inside the motel room, Shadow was listening intently. He took hold of a folder, and examined several photos of Tails...
Elsewhere Mina was sitting with Sonic and their editor, waiting for her story to come on.
"They just promo-ed your spot. It's coming on right after this." Sonic said. Back at HQ an aide whispered into a general's ear.
"If Dr. Tatopoulos is right, we must act quickly before this problem escalates." Knuckles said.
"You want to divide our efforts based solely on a wild theory?
"He's come through for us before and if he feels strongly..."
"Come through for you!? Major, your campaign's a disaster. You weren't even able to prevent this thing from coming to Empire City. Now excuse me Gentlemen, but I think we should see this." The aide turned on the tv, and the secret news story was playing.
"How the hell did this get out?" Knuckles asked. Antoine's face then filled the screen.
"From an old Chun-nan sailor's song called Godzilla, a mythological sea dragon who attacked sailors, to our own modern day terror. Today in my special report, who is this Godzilla, where did he come from and why is he here?" At the diner Mina was on her feet, furious.
"You're special report! I'm the one that found that stupid song! That's my special report, you bastard!" Sonic tried to calm her down as the report continued. " And it's "Gojira" not Godzilla you moron!" At the motel room, Shadow had turned the story on.
"a path can be traced back from all over the world, all the way back to the Spagonia Polynesians where nuclear testing has been going on for over twenty years..." At HQ Knuckles burned with embarassment. "...But why? Research team member Dr. Tails Padopolus believes the creature is nesting, using Manhattan as ground zero to cultivate his species..." Tails frozed in horror as all eyes looked directly at him.
"You went to the press with this?" Knuckles asked. Tails was dumbfounded.
"No, I didn't...I didn't talk with anyone.
"They mentioned you by name!" Knuckles shouted.
"Yes...but I..."
"You gave them the tape?"
"No, it's still in my tent. It's..." It finally dawned on him. "Oh my God, she took it." A general walked over, beyond furious.
"Pack your stuff. You're officially off this project as of now."
"He stole my report! That's my report!" Mina said furious, back at the diner.
"We know, Mina." Sonic said
"...and in this reporter's opinion, all the kings horses and all the kings men"..." Mina threw something at the tv, before storming out.
Back at the motel room, Shadow snapped off the tv, bfore looking out the window. He then turned to his team.
"We're leaving."
"Well Mina...anything to say?"
What? You guys know I wouldnt do anything like that!" Mina said, trying to defend herself.
"She's being honest guys." Tails said, continueing on.
Tails was throwing his cases in the back of a taxi, downright depressed at this point. As he finished packing Balze walked up.
" I'm sorry about all this."
"Me too." Tails hoisted his last bag and prepared to leave. "Make sure they find that nest before it's too late." He instructed her.
"I'll try." Reluctantly, Tails nodded in acceptance, exiting out into the rain, laving torn photos of him and Mina in his wake. "Bye worm guy." Blaze said sadly. Elsewhere Mina was in a phone booth.
"What do you mean Murray's not there? A second ago you told me he was on the other line..." Something caught her eye. She looked out to Tails throwing more things into a taxi.
"Where to?" The cabby asked him.
"Newark airport." Tails said. He never saw Mina approaching.
"You're leaving? Why?" Tails gave her the cold shoulder, a look of anger on his face. "Is this cause of me? Because of the story?"
"Well what the hell did you think was going to happen?" Tails barked at her, still refusing to look at her.
"You never said it was off the record."
"I shouldn't have to, Mina. You're supposed to be my friend. I trusted you." Mina couldnt take it anymore.
"I didn't mean for it to turn out like this. Look, I lied to you. I'm not a reporter. When we broke up and I came out to New York I was so sure I'd make it. But I haven't. That's why I needed this story so bad. I just couldn't tell you I'm a failure." Tails paused then turned to her until they were nose to nose.
"So you thought that made it okay to steal my tapes?" The last bag was put inside the trunk. "Good luck in your new career. I think you really have what it takes." He said coldly to her, before slamming the door to the taxi, with him insdie. The cab took off leaving a very alone Mina standing in the rain.
"I'm sorry." Mina said sadly to herself.
"Harsh much?" Amy asked.
"She deserved it! Sorry Mina." Vector said.
"No problem."
"So your out of a job." Sonic asked. "What next?"
"Let's find out..."
Enjoy it? You know the drill R&R please! See you next time!
