Chapter Eight:

The Dual-City Showdown

As Tails struggles to breathe, his evil clone Miles tightens his grip on the wire around his enemy's throat. He looks back at Tails and taunts him in his final moments

"...I was created to mimic you. I didn't ask for that, but there I was lying on a table, gettin' destroyed and re-built day after day. And YOU were the cause of my suffering in that fat bastard's laboratory. So, I vowed to kill him and you for making me go through that pain. I'll be stopping by Eggman's jail cell after I'm finished here!"

Tails chokes for air as he listens to Miles' words

"...by the way - I heard about you and Nina... she never could resist me. I had that chick wrapped around my finger, and now you get the sloppy seconds. That's hilariously pathetic, Prower"

Amy Rose runs out of her house and throws her War Hammer at Miles. The force of the blow knocks him backward and flat on his back, releasing the wire around Tails' throat. He falls to his knees and gasps as he breathes in fresh air.

Amy turns to Starr "My boyfriend came back and you killed him, you bitch!"

"I wouldn't say it was all me..." Starr responds

Amy shouts angrily, picks up her Hammer and races towards the teenager, forcing AJ and Duncan to move in the way to stop her.

Knuckles gets free from the teenage Echidna's grip and begins to punch him around, also allowing Espio to get back to his feet and brawl with Duncan.

Amy swings the hammer but Starr's telekinesis powers stop her just before she connects with the attack

Sonia gets to her feet and tackles Starr to the ground, while Amy holds her hands down so she can't use her energy

Everyone is busy fighting the Enhanced Trio, so they don't realize Miles has gotten back to his feet and grabbed ahold of Tails once more

"You always seem to get lucky, don't you?!" The clone shouts

Miles clinches up his fist and brings it up for a powerful strike

Until Manic catches it in his hand and looks him in the eyes

"The only thing he's lucky to have are friends like us"

The green hedgehog pulls Miles away from Tails and front kicks the clone in the body. Miles tries to fight back, but Vector throws a left hook punch to the chin that knocks him backwards.

Rouge kicks him in the face as she flies by, then Big the Cat throws a cinder block at Miles that smashes against his face.

As the clone drops to one knee, Charmy Bee jumps on his back and punches the back of his head a dozen times, then Espio throws 3 Morning Stars at the clone, getting stuck in his chest and right forearm.

Miles quickly rips the blades out "Son of a bitch! I'll kill you ALL!"

Knuckles reaches over and hits Miles with a Superman Punch, giving Tails a chance to run up and drop kick his clone into the middle of the street. Chunks of skin are peeled off as he recieves road rash from sliding across the concrete.

As battered and beaten as he is, Miles slowly gets back to his feet and glares at everyone

"You're gonna have to kill me, because I won't stop comin' until you are all dead-"

A loud crackle pierces the sky as a Sniper Rile is fired. The bullet rips through Miles' forehead and he goes down for the last time.

Tails looks up towards a water tower and barely makes out the silhouette of Shadow the Hedgehog hanging off the railing. He nods at the fox and takes off into the streets once again.

"Whoa - what the fuck was that?!" Manic calls out in confusion

Tails, Knuckles and Amy join him as they stand over Miles' body in the street

"That was the end of him"

Police Cruisers and trucks begin to surround the area, while Vector, Espio and Charmy place The Enchanced Trio under arrest.

"Everyone alright?" The Crocodile asks

Everyone either says yes or nods at Vector

"Good. You guys better get outta here. I'll speak with the boys in blue about this whole situation" Vector says

Knuckles nods at him and he takes everyone out of the neighbourhood while the cops set up a perimeter around the crime scene.

As the four friends walk down a back street, Tails remembers his friends in Argo Valley are still in trouble

"Guys, I can't stay. I'll see you around"

Amy grabs his arm "What are you talking about? You nearly died back there!"

"Amy, I made a promise to some of my other friends in another city, and I have to keep it. If I don't, things could end up much worse for them"

The pink hedgehog quickly hugs the fox

"You be careful out there, Tails. And come back soon, alright?"

"I'm real sorry about what happened to Sonic"

"...yeah. So am I"

Tails takes off walking toward the nearest train station, only to have Manic catch up to him.

"What, you're following me, now?" Tails asks

"I know you're still pissed at me for what I did. I wanna make it up to you, bro. Let me help you out" Manic says

Tails looks at the green hedgehog for a moment, then they continue walking

"...Your sister said something about you being good at disappearing for years on end"

"Yeah, what about it?" Manic asks

Tails looks at him "Miles Prower needs to disappear for awhile"

"What're you talking about? I don't get it"

"Just - trust me, I'll explain on the way back into town"

XAIVER'S STEEL MILL, SOUTH EAST ARGO VALLEY

30 Minutes Later

Nina, Jamie, Lucky and King have their arms chained to a metal crane 15 feet above their heads. They stand back-to-back, with Nina being the only one facing the front gates of the steel mill. The cold wind causes all four friends to shiver as they wait for 'Miles' to show up for the exchange.

"He's not coming, is he?" Jamie asks, lips quivering from the freezing cold temperature outside

"The boss will come for us, don't worry" King says "Stay strong, don't give these fuckers the satisfaction of breaking us down!..."

Simian, the ruthless lieutenant of The Destructix, walks along a steel platform and drags a water hose with him. He walks to the edge and sprays King with ice cold water, adding to the torture he's already suffering through

"Yeah, listen to your big friend, guys. He's tough. Real tough" Simian mocks

King spits water out and groans loudly as his entire body freezes. Simian sprays Lucky and Jamie as well, seemingly just to hear them cry out in pain.

Nina grasps their hands to try and keep them warm, while doubting their friend will show up.

"I'm not sure we're making it out of this one. So I want you to know I love you all like my brothers. And I wouldn't give you up for anything in this world. Okay? I love you guys" Nina says

The friends shake off the pain and take turns saying their final goodbyes, when finally Tails arrives to the Steel Mill.

"...H-he's here" Nina shivers

She notices he's wearing a large black winter jacket, Black grip gloves, a ski mask, thick matching pants and steel toed boots. Simian's guards check him for any weapons and send him into the scrap yard

"Alright, I'm here! Let them go!" Tails shouts

Simian stands on the platform high above the ground and stares at the fox

"You certainly like cutting it close, Miles! One more minute and I would've had to watch these losers freeze to death" The Warthog says "...you bring the money?"

Tails takes a giant brown bag out from his jacket and throws it to a gang member. He checks it and gives a thumbs up to Simian

"...Boys! Release 'em!"

Two Destructix members unlock the padlocked chains around Tails' friends' hands and they each fall to the ground. Tails runs over to help them up but Simian points a gun at him, forcing the fox to stop

Nina helps Jamie to his feet and Lucky does the same for King, then they begin to walk out of the scrap yard

"What took you so long?!" Nina practically screams

"..I had to make a deal, first" Tails replies "I'm sorry"

"What deal?"

"There's a cab waiting for you guys around the corner, the driver's already been paid. I left some money in a bag in the backseat, too. Get outta town, far away from these guys"

"What about you?" Jamie asks

Tails sighs "You're probably never gonna see me again"

King stops "But, Boss-"

"Just go. I'll be fine. You take care of yourselves, and take care of each other. Hang in there. You guys will make it"

Hesitantly, the four friends leave their former boss behind and head towards the taxi around the corner. Tails makes sure they are gone before going anywhere with Sargent Simian

Tails turns to face the Giant Warthog

"So?"

"So, you will be coming with us-"

A flash of Neon Green torches the entire Steel Mill, causing machines to explode all around them. Gang members run away and cry out in terror as the flames grow higher.

Nina looks out the back window of the taxi and gasps at the carnage

"What the hell?" She says

"Man...he planned this from the beginning, didn't he?" Lucky suggests

"Looks that way...he never planned on leaving there alive.." Jamie responds

King leans back in his seat "Genius...I'm gonna miss that guy"

The taxi escapes the area just before local fire and rescue show up and police close off the scene.

Simian pushes some debris off of him and gets to his feet. A few Destructix members join him as they dig for Miles.

"Boss! Over here!" A thug calls out

The Giant Warthog pushes past the crew and looks down at Tails' burnt jacket sleeve

"He alive?"

"No. He had to have been incinerated in the blast"

Simian growls quietly before answering

"Smart son of a bitch knew dying was his only way out... let's get back to HQ before the pigs get here"

Simian leads his crew out of the area and into the back streets.

Meanwhile, just outside the gates, Tails hides in the shadows and waits for them to leave. The ski mask is pulled over his face and his clothing is smoking from taking the heat of the explosions.

He pulls out his phone and calls Manic

"Success. I'm heading back to you"

"Copy that. Our ride is just about here"

The fox pulls the jacket collar up, puts his hands in his pockets and escapes into the back streets. Police and the fire department show up shortly after and find no trace of him.

He jumps inside a Train Car and sits down next to Manic

"Today has been one of the most fucked up days I've ever had, man" Tails says

"Fighting your clone, to faking your death. Yeah, that's pretty intense. All of that in a span of 3 hours...That's gotta be some kinda record" Manic jokes

"...I'm just glad I saved them, Manic. I would've felt like shit if they died thinking I abandoned them"

"Sounds like they really grew on you"

"..even though they were really Miles' friends and I never actually met them in my life before all of this, I got to know them really well. They're good kids, all they have are each other, now"

"You know, I could always track them down for ya"

"Nah...Miles was never a real friend to them, and now they believe he's dead-"

"Well, we watched the sick bastard die, so that part is true"

"You're right... Anyway, they don't need him dragging them down. Now they're free"

"Yeah..." Manic pulls out his phone "So, you still don't remember me? Or anything we did last year?"

"Honestly, no, I don't. I'm sorry. My memory is a blur, right now..But I won't forget what you did for me, tonight"

Manic grins and fist bumps Tails

"So, are we heading back to Amy's?"

"Yeah, I promised everyone I'd say something nice before I head out. I don't think your girl Cream is gonna be there, though"

"Ah, she hates me. But that's better than what could've end up happening. Anyway, Lets just get back to Green Hill and say goodbye to everyone"

Tails lays back on his backpack, while Manic looks out of the train car window as it passes a sign that reads Thank You For Visiting Argo Valley.