Chapter 11: Chaotix…you're hired!
Sonic awoke the next day having little to no memory of what happened the night before because of the wall…which now had his imprint.
"I'm gonna need to fix that." He murmured. Sonic looked down and saw a note that had fallen when he sat up. He picked it up and read it:
Quick note
This is Storm's lettering (like a 4 year old hand wrote a news headline)
This is Wave's lettering (With little curls at the end of each letter)
This is Jet's lettering (Like a computer printed it)
And remember, it's all in capitalization.
No more quick note
WE HAVE YOUR FRIEND IF YOU WANT TO SEE HIM EVER AGAIN, BRING10,000 RINGS TO SUNSET HILL IN 48 HOURS AFTER I CALL OR ELSE.
Sonic read the note over and over. 'When they call? What does that mean?' Sonic thought. Then, as if on cue, Sonic's cell phone rang; playing 'It doesn't matter.' Sonic picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Sonic said.
"Hello Sonic." A voice said from the other side. Sonic jumped when he got a response.
"Who is this?" He demanded.
"That's for me to know, and for you to never know." The voice whispered. 'I know this voice from somewhere…' Sonic thought.
"Where's Tails? Is he still alive?"
"He's right here."
"I wanna talk to him."
"Very well." There were footsteps from the other side of the line and the sound of duct tape separating from fur.
"Talk." The voice commanded.
"S-S-Sonic?" Tails stuttered.
"I'm right here buddy." Sonic said soothingly.
"Sonic, I'm scared, I don't know where I am, I can't see, and I'm hungry." Tails wailed. "Just hold on, okay buddy?" Sonic said.
"Okay."
"Okay, don't worry, I'm gonna come get you as soon as I can." Before Tails could respond, the phone was moved away and the voice was talking.
"You know what to do to get him back Sonic." The voice snickered.
"Do you promise Tails will be safe until I bring you the money?" Sonic asked.
"If you can meet the dead line." The voice replied. Before Sonic could say another word, the other line hung up. Sonic stared at the phone; then he realized who the voice belonged to. He ran out the door and found who he was looking for only a quarter mile away.
æ♥²\░
Espio snuck out early and walked out to Sonic's house; he was almost there before he felt a blue bullet hit him hard, knocking him down.
"Give Tails back!" Sonic yelled grabbing Espio's throat and pinning him to a tree.
"Wha-what are you talking about?" Espio gasped, trying to release himself from Sonic's grip.
"Don't lie to me! When I said I'd help you I didn't know you'd try something like this!"
"I don't-- understand."
"Whadda mean you don't understand!? You heard Tails and how scared he was over the phone."
"I don't have anything--to do with whatever you're talking about!"
"You swear?"
"On my honor!" Sonic released Espio who fell to the ground gasping. "Jeez, what's wrong with you? You almost killed me!" Espio snapped, rubbing his neck.
"I'm sorry Espio, Tails was kidnapped and I thought the voice was familiar and…and… I don't know what I was thinking!" Sonic wailed.
"Hang on, the voice?" Espio said. Sonic nodded.
"Yeah, it sounded kinda deep like yours but now that I think of it, it wasn't as deep." Sonic sniffed.
"Alright, alright; no crying…did you find anything?" Espio asked.
"I found a ransom note." Sonic said.
"Lemme see." Espio said. Sonic ran back to his house and showed Espio the note.
"We're gonna need more then two to save Tails…whoa, Ten thousand rings!? Who's got that kinda money?"
"I dunno"
"Come on; let's go get the rest of the Chaotix, and the three princesses." Espio instructed and ran back for the Chaotix Detective Agency.
æ♥²\░
Espio quietly pushed open the door of the agency and motioned Sonic to follow; the house was still dark. A sudden bright light clicked on blinding Espio and Sonic.
"And where were you?" Vector asked.
"None of your business! Stop treating me like a child!" Espio snapped
"Then stop sneaking out like one!" Vector shot back.
"Well, sorry Mr. Mom!" Espio hissed.
"Don't use that tone with me!"
"Shut up!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Fine!" Vector stomped back into his room and slammed the door.
"Is he always like that?" Sonic asked.
"Only very early in the mornings." Espio huffed. "Come on, we gotta go into the beast's lair." Sonic followed Espio into Vector's room. It was Sonic's first look at it; CD's were scattered all over, posters of famous singers plastered his wall, and a large, no doubt broken, stereo system sat next to his bed. Espio walked through the room and dropped a record on Vector's head. Vector jumped.
"Hey, I got us a case." Espio said. Vector grumbled something but got up and stretched.
"Alright, go wake up Charmy." Vector said. Espio nodded and led Sonic out of Vector's room and told him to wait while he woke Charmy. Only after two minutes in Charmy's room there was a loud thud and Charmy screaming: "There my cookies! Stay away!"
The original Chaotix were soon by Vector's desk and listening to Sonic's story; of course, he left out how he and Espio met the night before to plan how to get rid of the princesses.
"Can you think of any reason why someone would want to hurt Tails?" Vector asked.
"Well, I have enemies, and Tails is my closest friend. But it's not Eggman." Sonic said
"How do ya know?"
"Well, one, he left a note. Two, he called threatening Tails if I didn't give him what he wanted."
"Okay, one more question, what was Espio doing around your house?" Sonic and Espio both froze.
"Well, um, I was, ah…taking a walk." Espio exclaimed.
"Sure you were." Vector said.
"So you guys are gonna take the case, right? And help me save Tails?" Sonic asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Sure thing." Vector said, "We'll talk about payment later." Vector stood up and showed Sonic out.
"Espio, if I wasn't still mad about you sneaking out, I would hug ya man." Vector smiled.
"Then I'm glad you're still mad." Espio said, crossing his arms. Vector smiled a devious smile.
"Come 'ere you." Vector said pulling Espio into a bear hug.
"Vector, stop! You know I don't like being hugged!" Espio screamed thrashing wildly at Vector. Vector dropped Espio and started on the case by examining the letter. Espio sat in a corner with his legs pressing against his chest, trying to make himself as small as possible in case Vector tried to hug him again.