The connection from the outside line ended. The President stood in the war room of the White House with a few other military and GUN personnel in the place. Of them was one Officer Tails. She heard the news from Rouge and wasn't sure what to think. Sonic was after the Chaos Emeralds, yet, she couldn't understand why? Did he just not trust GUN to keep them safe, during this time of peril? or was there something else afoot? Nonetheless, Tails' gaze shifted to the GUN commander who was multi-tasking as he had been keeping an eye on the battle with the black aliens near the Death Ruins.
"The Black Aliens are starting to gain ground again," The commander said to those in the room before finally swinging around and addressing the President, "We have to do something."
They each thought about it when The GUN commander brought up something.
"Perhaps we can use the Eclipse Cannon?" He mused, "If it can do what it did to the moon, it should be able to take out their base of operations."
Tails shook her head.
"We'd need all 7 chaos emeralds for that," Tails said, "But even if we did have all 7 of them, the last time they were inserted into it, it triggered that planet buster program."
The GUN Commander tried to think of another option as the president brought up a suggestion.
"Tails, perhaps you could meet up with Sonic at one of the Emerald locations," he said, "Perhaps we could use that, what did you call it again when Sonic changed colors?"
"The Super transformation?" Tails asked as it was the only thing, she could think of that he could be referring to. The President nods.
"Yes, that," he said, "If he can teleport the Ark, perhaps he could transport the whole comet."
"It's possible," Tails said as she knew what her mission. Yet, she didn't know exactly where these locations were, "Uh... where am I going exactly?"
The President looked to the GUN commander. It was obvious that he didn't want to divulge the locations of the emeralds. However, if the president was ordering to do it, he didn't have much of a choice.
"The Lava Shelter Museum," he replied, "Robotnik has a base there that we have turned into a storage unit."
"Am I getting a guide?" Tails asked as she had no idea where the museum was even located.
"I'll take you there myself," The Commander said which was a little surprising to those in the room. Even Tails was curious.
"Uh... Ok," Tails said but was ready to go whenever he was ready. So, they left the war room, Tails following in suit.
It was sometime later in the day as Tails found herself in some kind of vehicle hanger waiting by a large Semi-truck with the GUN logo on the side of its cargo container. Tails was waiting right beside this truck as she was told to wait until the GUN commander to collect something. Tails sighed as she was a little tired of waiting. She wasn't sure what was so important that they had to get if all she was doing was going to rendezvous with Sonic.
Of course, thinking of Sonic caused Tails' mind to shift. An almost warm feeling filled her as she thought about the blue hedgehog. She had only wished that this crisis wasn't going on or else she'd be telling him the way she felt about him. Perhaps she should tell him sooner? Tails shook her head. After all time and place, and dealing with this alien invasion was not the time to be talking about her feelings. Why did things have to be so complicated!
The sound of a forklift broke Tails from her thoughts as she saw it bringing in some kind of machine. She had seen it once before, what did He call it? Diamondo? She couldn't quite recall. Nonetheless, she walked closer as they GUN soldiers there began to load it into the back of the truck. Tails remained silent as they finished before closing up the back. The GUN commander walked up with a slight smirk.
"So, what exactly is that thing?" Tails asked.
"That," The GUN Commander said, "Is the solution to our problem."
Tails couldn't help but feel a little worried about that smirk on the commander's face. Finally, he turns around and heads around the truck to the driver's side door.
"Now, enough lollygagging," He said, "We have a hedgehog to find."
Tails nods, still having a bit of an uneasy feeling about what the Commander had planned but she had a job to do as she headed to the other side of the truck and climbed inside. Once she was buckled in, despite barely being able to see out, they headed on out of the Garage and onto the streets.
Tails was relatively silent during the trip. Yet as she sat there, she couldn't help but feel like a child in the human-sized seat. She was sat back due to the seatbelt as her legs just stuck out over the end, not able to really hang as her knees were too far back. Even that wasn't exactly comfortable as she was pressed back against her tails that had to go straight up. She wished she wasn't required to wear the seat belt.
"Hey, Commander..." She began but it didn't look like he was listening. Nonetheless, she continued, "Is it ok if I take off this seatbelt?"
The uncomfortableness was clear in her voice at least she figured.
"What's the matter?" The GUN commander said in a patronizing way, "Is your puny size uncomfortable? Need a booster seat for the little girl?"
Tails fumed.
"You don't have to be so..." She stated but she was cut off.
"Tough," He said, "This isn't a comfort cruise and I'm going to have you being tossed around in here in case we need to maneuver. So, you're going to wear that belt and shut your complaining."
Tails crossed her arms in annoyance. His attitude reminded her of her first adventure with Sonic. Then again, he didn't exactly insult her like that. Tails remained silent again but couldn't help but start up again. After all, maybe there was a reason for his attitude? Perhaps she could reason with him?
"So..." Tails said, "Why do you not like me and Sonic?"
"This isn't some social trip," The commander said, "We're at war right now and you need to shut your mouth and just do as you're told."
"But I thought..."
"and if you don't," he said, "We can stop right here and have a field test with Diablon, with you as the target."
Tails shut up then. By the sound of his voice, and what he tried to do before, she could believe him. So, she stayed silent for the rest of the trip.
Sonic was waiting just outside the Lava Shelter museum looking at the entrance and pondering his options. He had just arrived moments ago and couldn't figure out what he needed to do in order to get to the Emerald's storage location. Last time he had Black Doom there to tell him on how to get inside, yet the thought of needing someone's else seemed to infuriate him. He was Sonic the Hedgehog; he didn't need anyone's help. Yet at the time, he wasn't sure how to get to it. Not like he's seen any GUN soldiers about.
"What seems to be the matter, Sonic?"
Sonic turns his head to see Doom's Eye floating over to him. Seems he located him.
"It's fine," Sonic said shifting his gaze back to the building, "I don't need any help."
There was a slight chuckle from Doom's eye.
"Of course, you don't need any help," Doom said, "You're the Sonic the Hedgehog, you're the fastest thing alive. It's your destiny to be reunited with the Chaos Emeralds. Nothing should stand in your way from that."
The thought resonated in Sonic's mind. Nothing should stand in his way. Those were JUST humans after all. They were no match for him, only when he was holding back did, they manage to even restrain him before. But what was he holding back for anyways? Their feelings? Why should he care about those?
"I take it you have a plan?"
You could almost hear the smirk in Black Doom's voice. But Sonic didn't care as he gives a nod. He was done asking nicely. He'd just force them to give up the Emerald. So Sonic dashed inside, he'd smash the entire place to find the Emerald if he had too.
Tails and the GUN Commander arrived outside of the Lava Shelter Museum. Tails half expected there to people around outside yet there wasn't any. Then she realized that with what was going on, a trip to a museum probably wasn't a good idea.
"You have the place guarded?" Tails asked as the GUN commander also got out.
"After the last one was taken," The Commander said, "We stationed a few men here."
Tails nodded yet that's when they heard a loud crashing sound coming from inside the building. Tails and the Commander didn't wait for a second as they quickly dashed inside. Only to find that the place was trashed. It looked like the war had somehow come to this place.
"Sonic!" Tails shouted out hoping to he'd respond as they walked through. That's when they see him. For he was standing over a downed Soldier, in his hands was the red Chaos Emerald. Yet, she then noticed the black thing that was hovering right by Sonic.
"Sonic!" She yelled dashing forward and shooting at the strange creature only for it to dodge out of the way. Sonic turns around as he sees them. The alien thing settling by its side.
"Get away from that thing," Tails said yet Sonic's eyes drifted to the GUN commander who had also drawn his weapon.
"Where's the Emerald," Sonic said his tone dark which kind of scared Tails.
"Sonic? What's going on?" She said as she could see the shift in mannerisms with Sonic.
"I was right, huh?" The Gun Commander said, "You ARE working with the Black Aliens."
Tails was aghast at the accusation. There had to be something else going on. He... Sonic wouldn't do something like this. Even the terrible states that she's seen him in.
"Sonic, please," Tails pleaded, "What's going on? You can talk to..."
"I'm tired of your whining," Sonic said cruelly before turning his eyes to the Commander. His expression cold, only anger came through, "Give me the Emerald."
"What makes you think I'll listen to you?" The Gun Commander said as he now had his gun up and aimed at Sonic.
"Fine," Sonic said before dashing forward straight at the Commander.