**Authors Notes: This chapter is a bit drawn out and awkward, or at least it is to me. Again, I had to write this chapter to move forward, expect edits in the future. I would greatly appreciate comments on how to improve it.**
The cool wind rushed past Sonic's face and through the quills on his back as he raced along the river. A cool mist from the rapids occasionally caused him to squint. He had crossed the river several miles up stream from Robotropolis where the river was not so wide and easier to cross. Tails is supposed to be camped on this side, he can't be much farther now. The long run was just now starting to slow him up, and he was hoping for a small break to catch his breath.
Sonic could now see two figures in the distance. He took his chances and assumed them to be Tails and Bunny. After all how many other people could possibly be waiting from him.
"Sonic! You're here!" Tails shouted as he did his best not to cough with the rising dust cloud.
"Hey little cuz, didn't think I would leave you out here all by yourself did you?"
It had been quite a while since they had seen each other. Tails was always working in the lab, and Sonic was always running around Robotropolis. Sonic had been like an older brother to Tails since the first day Sonic had found him. He was without a doubt his best friend.
Bunny looked on as Sonic and Tails began their secret freedom fighters handshake that had yet to die out. As Sonic was finishing his greeting with Tails, he glanced over at Bunny who stood off to the side and said, "Hey Bunny."
"Hey Sugah Hog" she replied, just as she usually did. Bunny had been saved by Sonic when she was a lot younger as well. If Sonic hadn't shown up when he did, she would have been a 100% roboticised like so many of the others. She owed him his life, but surprisingly he never expected a return favor, just her friendship. Bunny still hoped that one day she could repay the good deed, but Sonic rarely ever needed saving.
"Well Tails, what's the plan?" Sonic asked, as he took off his pack and set it down on the ground.
"I am still working out the smaller details, but I think I know how we can get in undetected. Come over here and I'll show you," Tails said as he pulled up a map on his wrist computer. Sonic walked over and stood next to him to get a better look. Tails had overlaid what looked to be pipes on the map.
"These are the major power lines, generators and relay stations within the city."
"Oh I get it we are going to cut the power, sounds simple enough." Sonic said.
"Settle down there, let him explain, it's a bit more complicated," Bunny said to Sonic.
Bunny had been listening to Tails talk to himself all morning. Every once in a while he would ask her a question, and more often that not she had no idea what he was talking about. Although after a while she had began to get the gist of the fox's plan: cut the power in one area, and over load the supplying generator in another.
"Well we are going to cut the power, but it's a matter of where and when we do it. You see if we just cut the power to the building, a back-up will kick in and it will come right back on in a matter of seconds and if we cut the backup too, then Robotnik will think we are up to something."
"So what do we do, cut the power somewhere else?"
"Yes actually, that's exactly what we are going to do."
"Alright, you have one confused hedgehog."
"Just let me explain the whole thing then you will get it." Tails said as he bent down and picked up stick. He began to draw a basic diagram in the dry dirt and continued, "You see if we cut the power somewhere else then the back up power for that same location has to come from another section of the town, and that starts to put a strain on the system."
"But will that be enough to shut off the power?" Sonic asked.
"No, but if we then also increase the power usage in say one of Robotnik's factories, the power plant for that entire block, for example, will be put under some serious stress. If we are lucky it will simply shut down or overload, it should send the entire area into a blackout until the whole system resets."
"I think I get what you are saying, but how will we know which lines to cut, and which generators feed that section of the city?"
"That's what these are for." Tails said as he motioned to the lines that were overlaid on the map, "If these are still accurate, then cutting the power here, will cause the reserve power to be drawn from the same power generator that feeds the target building."
"Where is there?" Sonic said as he scratched his head trying to orient himself on the map.
"It's the warehouse district, it uses tons of power for all of the buildings in that area. The only hard part is going to be getting it all done at the same time, it's going to have to be like clockwork."
"C'mon Tails you're talking to the fastest thing alive, time is never an issue."
"Sorry Sonic, not even you can move this fast. Its going to take all three of us to do this right. One of us is going to have to cut the power while the other cranks up the power in the factory."
"What about the last person?" asked Sonic
"They are going to have to sneak in through the vents while the power is off. The power isn't going to stay off for long, so it's going to be you going into the building Sonic. Once you're inside you can let Bunny and I in using one of the doors."
"Alright then what are we waiting for, lets get this show on the road," Sonic said as he started moving towards the city.
"Hey Sonic, wait up!" Tails said as he turned to grab plastic case full of surveillance equipment.
All three of them now made their way towards the city in the growing morning light. Just as they had done the day before, they did their best to stay out of sight.
With Sonic leading them, it was only ten minuets before they arrived at the first warehouse. Tails paused as looked around to gather his surroundings while he caught his breath. The only down side to working with Sonic, was that you had to work at his pace, which even at its slowest was still fast for Tails.
"Alright Bunny, the substation that controls the power for this entire area is a half mile down this road," Tails said through a panting voice as motioned over his shoulder. "Pulling the plug on that will kill all the power to every single warehouse and anything else in this area."
Tails reached into the case and produced three tiny in-ear radios for them to wear. "These are all on encrypted channels, but we should only use them when we absolutely need to talk to each other, Robotnik will pick up on an increase of encrypted radio chatter."
Bunny and Sonic both took one of the small devices and placed in their ears.
"Bunny do you know what your looking for?" Tails asked.
"Not a clue darling."
"It will look like a small shed on one of the street corners, give it a good whack and let me know when the lights go out, but don't do anything until I let you know I am ready."
"Sure thing hun," Bunny responded as she set out down the street.
Tails then turned to Sonic, "C'mon I'll show you the best way in."
The sun had risen a considerable amount, even since they left from the river. It was almost never sunny in Robotropolis, the entire area always seemed to be in a perpetual shadow, only adding to the creepiness. Tails had to admit, with this much light it almost looked like a city compared to its normal run down abandoned look.
"So why do you we need to shut down all the power, just to get in the vents?" Sonic asked
Sonic was never one for stealth tactics, carrying on normal level conversations even when in the heart of the enemy city was just something he did. Tails tried to cope with it, but even hearing Sonic breath as loud as he did made him cringe.
"Well if you need to know, it's because there are now laser fields installed in them, and the power is only going to be out for so long."
"Well what happens if the power come back on when I am in there?"
"They are only in a few key places, and besides I am sure you are more than quick enough to get through." Tails responded
Tails stopped when he was next to a large grate cover a ventilation shaft on the side of a building.
"Is this it?" Sonic asked as he gazed upward to the buildings peak.
"Yup, it is" Tails said as he walked over and yanked off the cover, revealing the reddish glow of the laser field inside. "Sonic, these laser field will do a whole lot more than stun you, so don't do anything stupid."
"C'mon Tails, when was the last time this hedgehog did anything stupid?"
Tails choose not to answer that question, but the thought of generating a list for him did cross his mind.
"Ill let you know when it's safe to hop in." Tails said as he turned to walk away.
"Wait, what do I do until you're ready, and what am I supposed to do once I am inside?"
"Once your inside, you can let Bunny and I in through the back door, they open on the inside for anyone. As for what you should do now, just wait.," Tails said as he continued to walk around the corner and out of Sonic's sight.
He had done a fair amount of his own sneaking around, but he usually did that by himself, and certainly wasn't waiting around for other people. He assumed that Tails wanted him to stay out of sight for the remainder of the time, but a faint and unusually high-pitched noise had gotten his attention. He was sure it was coming from the main street in front of the building. Since curiosity had yet to kill him, he had to check it out, but what he found wasn't what he had been expecting.
In the street there were dozens of small overlander children running around, laughing, playing with toys, and making tons of noise. Sonic couldn't believe it, he had never thought he would see more overlanders, let alone any this young. Remaining in the shadows, he couldn't help but continue watch them; they seemed nothing like what he heard in the stories. All of these children must have meant they had continued to thrive even after they left.
"Richie, give it back!"
"Awe little Rachel wants her dolly back"
Well I guess they are not so different form the stories, Sonic thought, they are just more innocent looking.
"The first day we get to play outside and you bully me? Don't you have a whole city to run around and explore?"
"It's on my to do list, besides this is way more fun that playing kick the can with those other brats."
Sonic hadn't even been paying attention to the other children that were now kicking a ball around the street.
"Give it back or I am going to get my Daddy."
"Of course you are, that's what you do every time you little sissy."
Sonic couldn't help but think of how he used to tease Sally when they were younger, although he didn't recall ever making her run to her father as this young overlander was now doing.
It didn't take long for a hard smack across the face to wake him up. Feeling slightly stunned and surprised he looked around only to find the ball the kids had been kick rolling back into the streets. He rubbed the sore spot on his face where the ball had struck him as he slowly backed up, but it wasn't quick enough. Sonic was now in awkward position with one of the kids quickly running over get the ball.
The ball had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, and Sonic watched vigilantly as a young female overland came over to pick it. She stopped in her place, when her eyes met his. Now I definitely don't know what to do, she sees me, but I can't hurt her. Sonic backed up until he reached the shadows, where he turned and ran as fast as he could down the alley around the bend. When he looked back he could still see her frozen, staring at him. He wasn't sure what she would say to the others, but he needed to avoid confrontation at the moment. Tails won't be to happy if I mess up his plan, speaking of which where is that two Tailed…
"Sonic, Bunny, you guys ready" echoed in his head.
"You bet sugah, assuming this here thing is what I am supposed to be hitting."
"Sonic, how about you?"
Still reeling from his unusual experience he struggled to reply "Y-yeah… I am all set," he said as he pressed his finger to his ear.
"Okay Bunny I have got the factory going at 100%, give it a whack."
Sonic heard silence in his ear for what seemed like an eternity. He had near death experiences more times than he could count and not once had he ever felt like he did now. It was something about seeing that child. For the first time he was truly scared of what ever Dr. Robotnik was up to.