It had been a few days since Tails had become the new overseer of the mission to get Scourge and Hooper back. Being the new head of the operation had taken a little bit away from Tails' personal time. Of course, he stuck to the routines of the other soldiers as and when he could, but it had felt like a month since he read his last letter from Cream. He knew that he had one waiting for him, but he hadn't gotten around to reading it. Or replying.

The fox himself was looking again over the dossiers. "Man... this is difficult..." He sighed in the communications room as he kept looking over the files.

"What's so hard about it?" asked Knuckles, popping up and smiling. "Scourge wiped his history with Conway clean to keep undercover. Seems easy enough to me."

"Hey there, big red," Tails smiled back. "What are you doing here?"

"What I'm doing here is giving you a chance to cool off a bit."

"I'd love to, but I can't. I have too much work to do, and-"

"Conway recommended it," said Knuckles. "You're supposed to be working more with him and Vector anyway, and they're still taking regular breaks. So you're going to take one too."

The yellow fox nodded. "Yeah, you're right." He sat up and stretched a bit, picking the files up.

"Leave them here," Knuckles said. "They'll still be here when you get back."

Tails smiled, putting the files back down and following the red echidna downstairs to their camp. Everyone was sharing some food around, and lights were on as well, with some rock music playing and some beers being drunk down.

"What's all this about?" Tails asked.

"This is your break," said Knuckles. "Just a little party to celebrate your work."

"My work?" Tails said. "It... it can't just be for me. You all do an amazing job."

"True, but considering how much you've achieved given your short time here, you need the most relaxation."

"As do I," Conway said, showing a beer bottle and inclining his head to Tails. Said fox was about to salute, but Conway raised his hand to stop him. "Tails, for a little bit, we're not soldiers here. We're friends. No need for formalities or salutes, okay? Just have a beer or just sit down and try to take a load off."

"But you're working on this case too," Tails said. "So is Vector."

"And we're taking time off," Vector said, laying back in his bed.

"I tried to tell him that," Knuckles said. "He still doesn't get it, it seems."

"You'd think that a kid as smart as him would be able to catch on quicker," Sonic joked.

Tails chuckled. "All right, fine. I guess I'll take a load off."

"Want a beer?" asked Knuckles.

"I don't see why not. But just one."

"Hey, who knows?" asked Sonic. "If we get more soldiers, we can have them join us. But they're totally cleaning up when someone makes a mess."

"Yeah..." Tails chuckled as Knuckles gave him a bottle of beer, the cap twisting off.

"Oh, and you have a letter too," Sonic said, zipping over to get it. "From your lovely lady."

Tails smiled. "Do you guys mind if I go and read this?"

"Go for it," said Conway. "We won't pry."

Tails did so, going over to his bed. He picked up the letter, and opened it up. He smiled and felt a small tear coming to his eye as he read through it, the part about the dog couple sticking with him hard. But the picture of the ultrasound stuck with him the most as he looked at it.

"She looks beautiful..." Tails smiled to himself. He sighed and put said picture and letter with the others that he had before turning. "Conway?"

"Yes, Tails?" the colonel asked.

"Do I have permission to write a letter back to my fiancee?"

"Hell yeah, you do," Conway smiled.

Tails chuckled, getting himself prepared to write said letter as he sat on his bed. He looked around, thankful that everyone had given him some space and privacy, with some even turning away to let him write in peace, having turned their backs when he read his letter in the first place.

He clicked his pen and began to jot down the message that he would send back.

"Dear Cream, it's fantastic news that our baby girl is still growing! Oh, she looks... so beautiful... much like you. I'm glad that you've been reconnecting more with people lately too. And it's nice of your mother to take care of our little girl when she's born. I do appreciate that so." He smiled as he kept going. "It's just really nice that you've been keeping busy. The irony is that I keep being told to work a bit less. And... my friends are right. Heck, as we speak, I'm having a chilled party with them. Just a beer, some food, good music... and with more good stuff to come in terms of our new mission, which I'm one of the heads of, it's all looking up so far. I... really, really, really can't wait to marry you when I get back. And I can't wait to see the new life that we'll bring into this world. I love you so much, forever and a day. Yours, Tails."

He put the letter in an envelope, writing the address, and adding it to the list of letters from other soldiers. As he did, he decided to take a look at said letters, seeing some with different symbols, addresses, and even the flags and colours of different countries in some rare cases.

"You okay?" Sonic asked.

"Uh... yeah..." Tails said. "I... I guess I never really thought about this, you know?"

"Thought about what?"

"All of the different soldiers here fighting for their families like I'm fighting for mine," Tails said. "Sonic, it's rare for me to swear, but if I fuck this up... a lot of soldiers' wives and husbands are going to be waiting for their hero to come home, and they're not going to get to see them again."

"Which is why you're not going to mess this up," said Sonic. "Come on, let's get back to having fun, okay?"

"Thank you," Tails said.

"And try not to get wasted on your one beer!"

Tails shook his head, rejoining his friend and the others in the camp. He had his drink and some food, finding the atmosphere and friendship and camaraderie calming, not to mention the news that he had received from Cream's letter.

Later, the party had died down, and after everyone was cleaned up, it was right back to work, with Tails going upstairs to the communications room again. He took his usual seat, plugging his headphones in and waiting around.

"Got anything yet?" Vector asked, joining him.

"I just sat down," Tails said. "It might take a while."

Vector produced a bottle of water for the fox. "It hasn't been long. I have faith in Scourge, but I doubt that we'll have something so soon after last time."

Tails nodded, but his eyes lit up when he saw one of the lines beeping. "Wait..." He typed into his computer quickly to see something. He pressed a button to bring up footage of Scourge starting to speak.

"This is Scourge of the 44th Chimera Regimen under Colonel Tyson Conway, currently undercover for FATE under Darius Conway. I don't know when this message will get out, but there was a power shortage, and the other guards aren't here to watch over Hooper. I don't have a lot of time. Hooper knows about an underground passage. We noticed some dead bodies being taken somewhere, but I didn't have authority to see it for myself. I still haven't seen it, but... people that go back there don't come back, and nobody talks about any bodies. There is a way out of this shit-hole. I know it. I just hope that it's the right one."

The lights started to activate again, and Scourge quickly turned things off on his end. Tails saw the line still beeping, and pumped his fists slightly. "Yes! Oh, wow... all that work that went into them, and it paid off..."

"What... happened, exactly?" Knuckles asked.

"I got a signal boosted from the tracers that Scourge place around Darius' base," Tails said. "He got a chance to communicate with us, and as big a risk it was, he took it."

"We have a way into Darius' base now," said Vector. "We just know that it's underground, but we don't know where."

"So, if we find the path..." Knuckles started.

"Then we find a way to cripple them and flush them out," said Vector.

"Well, when do we start?"

Tails stood. "We need to find the entrance, at least. I'll need a drone."

"Luckily, they can reach that far," Vector said. "You know how to fly them, right?"

"Let's just say that me and the sky have a pretty good relationship," Tails smiled.

"All right, I'll get it all ready," Vector said. "Remember, we just need to confirm it. We're not busting in just yet."

"I know," Tails replied. "But still... we have a shot. We need to take it."

Later, everything was prepared to go. Tails had a remote in his hands which was attached to a screen which would show him where the drone went. He saw a group of wheels tucked under the drone, knowing what they were for and hoping that he wouldn't have to make too much noise.

"All right..." Tails said. "Commencing in three... two... one... now!"

The drone flew up into the sky, with Tails turning it until it was facing the right way. With a little bit of will and a push of the control sticks, the drone zipped off in that direction, using the tracking signal that it had to help guide its way.

Back with Scourge...

The green hedgehog was in the gym, having just eaten some lunch. He laid back on a bench, taking up the weights that were there, and he started lifting them up. After a few pumps up and down, he saw a shadow over him, seeing Daly above him.

"Need a spotter?" he asked.

"Nah. I'm good."

"Working out so that you can hit Hooper harder?" Daly chuckled. "What's the plan? Hit him so hard that the words just fall out of his mouth?"

"Well, I tried that," Scourge said. "Talking doesn't work. Fists don't work. Water, electricity... I even held a blowtorch to his face the other day. Whatever he's made out of, it's nothing that I can knock out of his system."

"Or maybe Tyson's regimen is tougher than we thought?" Daly asked, her voice almost too calm as he reached behind his pocket.

"Yeah... I guess so..." Scourge said, seeing the reach and trying hard to pretend that he didn't.

"You know," Daly started, "I got locked in a few Irish prisons. Nothing too serious. But do you know why I survived that long?"

"I don't really care, to be honest."

Daly smiled. "I survived by not being a snitch."

"Considering that you had to drink through a straw for most of those prison trips, I'm surprised that you're still talking," Scourge said.

Daly loosened the grip of whatever was behind him. "True... but even if I could have spoken, I wouldn't have. I wouldn't have sold anybody out, and I never did."

"And you wonder why you suck so much ass in a fight," Scourge said, giving one final lift before resting the weights.

"You done?" Daly asked. "Don't mind spotting me, do you?"

"No... not at all..." Scourge sighed.

Daly lifted and dropped the weight, with Scourge helping him hold it. After another lift, an alarm went off, indicating the shifts changing. And since Scourge hadn't gone to meet Hooper yet, he turned to see Daly with the weights.

"Sorry. Got a job to do."

"Well, how about I come with ya?" Daly asked.

"Why?" Scourge asked. "Ain't you got better shit to do? Guard duty? Making sure that nobody else drinks all the booze?"

"That was one time."

"One time late last night," Scourge said. "Same as every other night."

Daly shook his head. "Just take me with you, yeah? There's no rule against it."

"This place is really loose about that..." The green hedgehog shook his head. "All right, fine. But I'll be watching you, so don't try anything stupid, okay?"

"Don't try anything stupid? Like what? Stuff that would actually get us information?" Daly shook his head.

"It's like I've said a ton of times: We don't get information from a dead man. Especially if that man is Hooper. He is a valuable asset, and we need him alive. I swear to you, after we get what we need out of him, you can do whatever you want to him. But until then, I'm the one running his face into the ground, not you." Scourge stepped closer. "You got that?"

Daly grinned. "Yes, sir."

"Okay, now you're just doing it on purpose."

"Only because it's so easy."

Scourge shook his head, leading the way over to the prisons with Daly following behind him. As he walked, he looked overhead to see a faint black dot in the sky, causing him to stand still for a brief moment and squint his eyes.

"What's that?" Daly asked.

Scourge shrugged. "Beats me. Probably just some bird or something."

The two went the rest of the way into the prison, and they heard the sound of blows landing and some blood being spat out after that, followed by obscenities and demands from the man doing the torturing, who then landed another blow.

"Give us what we want!" he said.

"Oi!" Daly spoke up. "It's Scourge's turn. Get the fuck out."

The torturer grunted, turning to kick Hooper in the stomach one more time before leaving. Scourge walked up, noticing that they lights were on, glaring in Hooper's face. It showed new welts, some cuts, and some wetness from a cup of water recently being flung at him.

"All right, mate," Daly said. "Show me how you go to work on him."

"This is why you're here?" Scourge asked. His hands were low on his sides, and he formed a zero with his left hand since Daly was on his right. "You want to watch me torture him?"

"I just want to see exactly what you do," Daly shrugged. "Nothing wrong with wanting to take pride in someone else's work. In fact, I'll go grab a seat."

"Fine," Scourge said. He turned his attention to Hooper. "Man... it's been a long time of me torturing you. You really are made of strong stuff..." He reached a hand out onto Hooper's shoulder, tapping it a few times. "You know, I really should kill this son of a bitch. I've had a real hankering for it as of late." He looked at Hooper when he said it, but it wasn't Hooper who he thought about killing.

"And you were just telling me how you need him alive," said Hooper. "Sort of ironic, isn't it?"

Scourge smiled. "Yeah, I know. I sound like a hypocrite. Which makes me sound like a lot of people around these parts." As his body was turned, blocking Daly's view of Hooper, he showed a flat hand but it was turned upwards, meaning that while Scourge couldn't help, either he'd be able to soon or the rest of the regimen would be there soon.

Daly smiled. "Well, don't just sit above this motherfucker. Hit him. Oh, and any tools that you may need, tell me."

Scourge nodded. "Hmm... the pliers might do well."

Daly got said item and handed them over. "Here you go."

"Ah, how kind." Scourge pocketed them. "But before I use them, I'd best knock something loose first... let's just hope that it's useful..."

Scourge then stood back, saw that Hooper was dribbling some blood from his mouth. That was the sign that Hooper wanted Scourge to go easy on him, and then Scourge realised how much more dangerous the situation suddenly got just from that alone.

Scourge simply nodded, however, and went to work. He cocked his fist back and threw it as hard as he could, pulling slightly at the last second to do less damage. It still caused Hooper's head to bounce back and spit up some blood into the air.

"Oh, nice one!" Daly said. "That was a good shot, mate!"

"Thank you," Scourge said, turning back to Hooper. "Tell me what I want to know! What is the next plan for Tyson Conway and the Chimera Regimen?"

Hooper then spat blood at Scourge's face, causing the plan to change since he knew that Scourge had to keep his cover. "Fuck... you..."

"You see, that was both a poor choice in action and a poor choice in words," the green hedgehog said. He threw another punch and it cracked across Hooper's jaw hard. "If you keep speaking up, I might just pull out your tongue."

"I'll bite it off... before I... sell out my friends..." Hooper grinned. "And I'll spit it... right in your face..."

Scourge smiled, rearing his hand back to slap Hooper. "You feel that? That disrespect? That's what you're showing to me right now. So when you do bite your tongue, you'd better swallow it hole. Because I swear to god that I'll make you do just that."

"Go... fuck... yourself..."

Scourge sighed. "This could have been so much easier..." He threw another punch, hitting Hooper hard again. "You could have just told me." He turned and threw an elbow, sure that he knocked a tooth loose. "But you just..." A hard right. "Don't..." A kick to the stomach. "Get it..."

"That's it, fuck him up!" Daly cheered.

Scourge looked up to the small window in the cell, seeing the black dot flying away once again before turning his attention back to Hooper. "You... you think you're going to get out of this alive? Give is some information, you stubborn son of a bitch!"

Daly walked over, patting Scourge's back as he spoke to Hooper. "If I were you, I'd listen to my friend here."

"Shut up," Scourge said to Daly.

"I'm just trying to help you."

"You're here to watch," Scourge said. "You want to help? Go sit your ass back down. And get me the blowtorch..."

Daly grinned, grabbing the device in question and handing it over. "It surely is a pleasure to watch you work..."

Back at Conway's base...

The yellow fox smiled to himself as he dropped the drone down onto the ground. He was very careful to not get seen, and everywhere he went, he made sure to snap some pictures. Sure enough, as he said he would, he came across where the entrance to the tunnel would be, making sure to take more pictures.

As he called the drone back up, he furrowed his brow as he saw Scourge in the reflection, beating up the bloodied Hooper. Still, Tails knew that it was for Scourge's cover, and he focused back on his own mission, returning the drone safely to his base.

"You did it!" Sonic said. "Good work!"

"Indeed," Vector agreed. "But we need to get those pictures copied and send out for help. I'll get them to Conway right away."

Tails handed him the drone. "Need help with it?"

"We'll handle this part," Vector said. "You can get some rest. Oh, and good work."

"Thanks." Tails chuckled a bit as Vector left. "So... that was something..."

"What was it like being in FATE's base?" Sonic asked.

"I don't think that I'd do it justice," Tails answered. "We'll ask Scourge that when we get him out of there."

"And Hooper too," Espio added. "Poor guy..."

"I saw Scourge beating him up again," Tails said. "I think he started to use a blowtorch, but I pulled out before I got there."

"Are you kidding? The way that you sneaked around, you could have stood in one place all day and not been seen," Knuckles smiled.

"Eh, probably," Tails shrugged. "But I wanted to just focus on the mission. Get in, get the info, get out."

"So, you think we're ready?" Sonic asked. "You are the head honcho of the mission."

"I would love to say yes," Tails replied, "but we'll wait until Vector and Conway give us something. We need the backup for a mission this big."

"And do you think you'll have to fire a gun?"

Tails looked down at the pistol he had holstered. "I'm starting to think so."

"Well..." Knuckles said, breaking the awkward silence that followed. "Let's get back to our jobs, I guess."

Tails smiled. "You guys go ahead. I'm going to take a nap."

"We'll wake you up when it's lunch," Sonic said. "Have a good one, bud."

Tails showed a thumbs up in thanks, going to his bunk and climbing into his bed, soon drifting off to sleep and having dreams of himself and Cream, wedding bands on both their fingers as they held their baby girl. Said images gave Tails a genuine smile as he slept.

A little bit more back and forth with this one, but as always, I enjoyed writing it! So, yeah, next time is the big mission. It'll probably be the most action-packed chapter of this story. I hope to see you then. Take care, and stay tuned.