THE TILTYARD TECH STUDY
ONE HOUR LATER
"Your first name is Beau?" Tails asked.
"My mother named me that, yes. I chose the name Magnus once they transferred me here, and I'd prefer you address me as such while you walk these halls, Miles."
The leader of the Study marched with the same confidence he had prior to Tails defeating him in the game of chess, and though he was grateful to his one time rival for disbanding G.U.N, he still needed to show his authority. He was, after all, being groomed to become a business mogul after his studies in post secondary. Tails understood this and kept it in mind as he walked beside the ferret.
"So," Magnus said. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Well, I was making my rounds and I heard you had a machine similar to the super computer Millay had-"
"I must interrupt you, friend...IF such a device were here, did you intend on acquiring it from us?"
Tails didn't need to turn around to know he was being sized up by the Study regulars. Normally, he'd have no problem against these numbers but while still injured, his chances of overpowering them went down to an embarrassingly low percent. He was already tired of Magnus' antics but he needed his help.
"No, I only came to use it. Something of mine was stolen, and I need to track it down."
"...the population of Greenhill owes you a debt for your heroics. So, this will be my token, Miles. Once this transaction concludes, we are even. Any favours moving forward will have a price."
Magnus drove the point home as he made eye contact with the fox, then signalled for his confidants to bring Tails to the machine. They brushed past dozens of other students frantically working throughout the Study on their way to a back room. The larger of the two revealed a key ring and unlocked the heavy door, then Tails entered. A camera mounted in the corner watched as he pulled out a notebook and flipped through the pages, eventually finding the notes he needed before typing on the machine. He felt Magnus' presence behind him, not worried about him learning SAGE was stolen.
"...you really should keep that thing locked away." Magnus said.
"Yeah, I tried that and bad guys still came for it."
"If you don't mind me asking, what will you do once you retrieve it?"
"I was thinking of smashing it to pieces."
The ferret leaned against a desk. "Surely there are more useful things for the device."
"You're right but as long as it's active, it only serves as temptation for the next wave of criminals who won't stop coming until they have this power. So, it must be destroyed."
"Or repurposed."
Tails stopped typing and shot Magnus a glare of his own, to which his host smirked and raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Just a suggestion, friend. A power such as that shouldn't be squandered."
"No it shouldn't."
Tails prayed Drago hadn't learned of the tracking beacon he'd activated inside the dorm, he knew the drone in his window watched him but the wolf was not suspicious in the Chemical Plant. His enemy could be anywhere in the world with the SAGE program right now, so it was vital Tails found his location as soon as possible.
The machine beeped and Tails scanned the screen. "...I gotcha, now."
Magnus looked at the screen as well. "Ooh, you're in for a chilly one."
"Yeah, but heroes can't just sit on their asses, can they. I'll see you around."
Tails tucked his notebook inside his backpack and Magnus' confidant locked the door once they left the back room.
"Precautions, Miles." Magnus called out.
The fox answered with a thumbs up before exiting the Tech Study. He rushed back to the dorm to prepare for the trip, and made a phone call as he walked.
"Hello, Sonia?"
"Hello Miles." She answered.
"Listen, I'm gonna have to use that get-out-of-jail-free card today."
She laughed before replying. "Sooner rather than later is upon us. What do you need?"
"The jet, if it's available."
"Of course it is. You making a long trip?"
"Yeah. Real long."
"The keys are in the hangar, just bring her back with a full tank."
"You're the best."
He hung up and entered the dorm, surprised to find Cream and Charmy weren't the only ones waiting for him.
"Hey guys," Tails said nervously. "What're you doing here?"
Starr, Falke and Manic greeted him. Fiona came from out of his room and spoke first.
"Cream told us what happened, and we're going with you." She said matter-of-factly. "I'm not losing you again, Miles."
"You won't, but this is personal. Drago will kill me or anyone close to me to keep SAGE-"
"This is EXACTLY why we're coming with you. I'm not just going to sit back and let this traitor take a crack at you."
Starr stood up and faced him. "None of us are."
Manic shrugged and put his arm around Falke. "You're stuck with us, bro."
Tails crossed the common area and entered his room. "Alright, but we have to move. And you oughta pack some winter clothes for this trip."
"Why's that?" Fiona asked.
"Because Drago is heading to the Ice Cap Zone and I know exactly what for. So come on, we're on the clock."
Two modified all-terrain vehicles tore through the ice and deep snow on their way to the G.U.N armoury. Drago sat behind the driver, donning three layers of thermal clothing and his new winter jacket. His black tactical mask and goggles covered his face but wouldn't obscure his vision in the fight, while the brown fur hood was all for style. The crew he rode with were made up of common criminals and individuals who were either hired by or owed a favour to the mysterious Nero. They'd had no problems crossing the border, it was the immediate drop in temperature and dark blue sky that left the crew unnerved. The massive glaciers only grew the deeper they travelled, and the natural light slowly disappeared. Soon their headlights weren't projecting enough light to see the roads, so they'd decided to take turns hanging out of the sunroof and guiding a large LED light for the vehicles.
As they reached the outside parameter of a nearby compound, Drago's gloved hands signalled to his team to follow. He revealed the SAGE program and while he climbed a snow bank, he hacked into the compound's security network. The team stayed just out of view of patrolling guards at the bottom of the embankment, activating heat detectors while waiting for their cue. The lights suddenly went out, along with the backup generator outside. Their shouts and cursing weren't in english, but Drago knew the guards were scared, so he pushed forward.
"Take 'em." His only words were as he climbed down the hill.
Drago kept the SAGE program pointed at the compound and his team opened fire. The overmatched guards couldn't do a thing while the invaders slid down the hill through the snow, with muzzle flashes being the last thing most of them saw. All 12 guards dropped to the ground, then the wolf finally pulled his pistol out and moved ahead. He used SAGE to detect heat signatures as he ran toward the compound, while the team ran to cover the back and sides. Drago ran toward a concrete wall that curved to the left and led to an entrance, picking up a few signatures as he got closer. He switched levels and shifted his weight to the right, narrowly avoiding the volley of gunfire. He squeezed the trigger once, the guard fell and he continued. Two more ran out with machine guns and roared as they sprayed the snow, unaware Drago climbed a small hill to the left. Two more shots rang out and he stepped over their bodies, but was caught off guard as a final guard jumped out and popped a shot off, nailing his right bicep.
"Good one, dickhead! Argh!.." Drago said before blowing him away.
He held his bicep while waiting for backup and once they came, they entered the building together. The fibre-lining of his jacket was bulletproof, though he'd be feeling the sting for hours. He used SAGE to turn the lights back on, and the team swept the interior. They removed their headsets as the bright lights came on and found unarmed individuals hiding along the passage.
"Civilians. Don't shoot." One of the crew members ordered. "Kid, find that CPU."
"Already did." Drago responded while typing on the screen. "It's in the next corridor, watch these guys and cover me."
A green hawk nudged him from behind and said, "We gotcha, just get in there."
Drago knew Predator Hawk by reputation, he was once the leader of the HAZARD syndicate in Metropolis, then Sonic's friends got involved and he was out of a job. He then worked his way back up through small time gangs and started to get big again, until Manic's crew pulled the rug out from under him once more. Hawk was on his third and final chance working for Nero, so he moved with aggression. He'd escaped death when all of his contemporaries hadn't and he wasn't about to give up so easily, which Drago respected.
The wolf was flanked by Hawk while they entered the corridor, ignoring the civilians' pleas as they passed. Drago shot the lock off a metal crate and pulled Millay's super computer out.
"This is it." He confirmed.
Hawk lowered his weapon and sighed. "Great. Now we can get the hell outta here."
They both were startled by a civilian jumping up waiving his arms. "Please! G.U.N kidnapped us! Help us get home!"
"We only came for this, buddy. Find your own way home." Hawk said while keeping the barrel of his machine gun pointed at him.
"We have nothing to protect us from the storm outside! Please! We cannot travel unprotected!"
"Then I suggest you rip the gear off the departed G.U.N men. We don't give out free rides. Now sit back down."
"You MUST-"
The shot rang out and screams echoed through the corridor as the man went down. Drago looked at Hawk for a moment, then exhaled passively and picked up the super computer's case. They left the civilians to cry out in the corridor and three more crew men ran in.
"What was that?!"
"Hey, that guy jumped at me, I told him to back up but he wouldn't. I don't know if he's unarmed or not, right." Hawk said.
"You'd better watch that trigger finger. Kid, you get that CPU?"
Drago raised the case. "All accounted for."
"Alright, lets head back to the trucks and find the nearest refuelling station out here."
"Man, I'm starving. I hope they've got a canteen or something there." Hawk said.
The crew collected their gear, picked up any ammo left by the departed and climbed back up the massive snow bank. They drove back the way they came and followed the winding paths, but a storm was picking up behind them, causing the trucks to slide dangerously across the ice. The strong winds hit them hard but they continued through until they finally found the only building in sight; a large airplane hangar.
Drago used SAGE to open the massive door and then both trucks pulled inside before he closed it again. The men shivered as they exited the vehicles and walked around the open room, noticing a lack of any aircraft.
"So, what the hell are we gonna do now?"
"Probably freeze to death in here..."
"We'll wait until this clears up, there's no way we're making it through that storm."
"And how long is that gonna take?"
Drago stood up. "As long as it takes. I'll call the boss and make arrangements, you guys just stay calm."
"Whatever kid, just do your nerd thing and get us a ride outta here..."
"Try not to shoot any of us, guy."
Drago exchanged glares with Hawk then went inside a small room for silence as he called Nero. Only he had direct communication with 'the boss' and he felt it was because he was the chosen leader. In reality, it was because only he knew how to operate SAGE effectively.
Two hours would pass before the A.I device indicated an incoming helicopter. Drago was half asleep at a desk when SAGE started beeping. He sat up, unlocked the device and read the message onscreen.
"That's what I'm talking about, Nero." He said to himself.
The wolf put his jacket on and stepped out of the office to inform the crew.
"Doorknobs, our ride is here."
"About time, I was gettin' worried I was gonna die next to you morons." Hawk said.
"Yeah, yeah, kiss my ass."
The group quickly got ready, packed up their gear from the trucks and climbed a staircase that led to the roof. Drago pushed the door open and braced himself for the harsh winds. The group of 10 walked to the ledge of the hangar and waited for their ride to land.
The moment he looked up, Drago realized the incoming helicopter wasn't here to take them home.
With Tails piloting the chopper, Starr and Manic hung off the sides aiming at the rooftop. The elemental's purple magenta energy illuminated the left side, while Manic's jade green Medallion energy lit the right. Fiona sat in the co pilot's seat watching nervously, and Falke was there in case they needed backup.
Tails enabled the speaker function and spoke. "Give up the SAGE program and the CPU, and nobody gets hurt."
Drago snarled angrily and dropped his gear bag. "Put them in the ice!"
Before the crew could fire any shots, Manic and Starr furiously blasted the rooftop with Jade and Magenta balls of energy, careful not to blast the gear bag that contained the CPU. Most of the crew men were knocked off the roof and slammed hard into the snow, but Drago and Hawk hung on. They were able to pull out their pistols and return fire, so Tails moved the chopper backwards to avoid the bullets.
Manic recognized his old rival Hawk as the chopper banked to the left and readied himself to jump. "Better hold onto something, the kickback is gonna be strong."
"What're you talking about?"
The Medallion's energy gave Manic a boost as he threw himself off the landing gear and nosedived toward the hangar roof. Drago ducked to avoid the green hedgehog and watched as he and Hawk smashed through the roof, falling another 30 feet before smacking off the concrete inside.
"I stopped my boys from wasting you out in Springyard last year," Manic said as he stood up. "You shoulda quit while you were ahead."
"Yeah, well-" Hawk fired from the waist and ran for cover around a steel beam. "Only pussies give up!"
A jade green aura surrounded Manic as he performed acrobatic moves to avoid the bullets fired at him. He spiralled around and moved closer to the green hawk, waiting for him to run out of ammo and reload. Once he did, Manic ran forward and tackled Hawk, ripping through the metal wall like tin foil.
Still firing at Tails' helicopter from the roof, Drago saw the rivals slide across the ice below and switched targets. He snatched his gear bag and ran across the rooftop to get a better vantage point. Fiona shined a searchlight on the wolf as he ran and Tails followed close behind.
Drago lifted a sub machine gun over the ledge and took aim. "Adios, fellas."
The rapid gunfire caused the thick ice to crack, then both Manic and Hawk fell through and plunged into the ice cold waters under the surface.
"Oh shit!" Starr exclaimed.
The trio saw the jade green aura get brighter under water and Manic raised his hand for a thumbs up before diving back down.
"He's alright, Starr, we gotta get the stuff!" Tails said.
"I'm on it."
The elemental jumped off the side of the chopper and landed on the hangar but Drago was gone. Starr dashed across the roof, then saw the wolf inside frantically starting up one of the trucks.
The engine roared and he stepped on the gas pedal, driving 20 feet outside before Starr crashed on top of the rear end to halt the all-terrain vehicle.
She walked toward the driver's side and caught Drago's hand before he could shoot her. "That's not how you treat a lady."
Starr ripped the gun away, melted it with her energy and reached into the backseat. She took the CPU from the gear bag then searched Drago's pockets until she found the SAGE program.
"Nero's gonna see to it you hang, freak." Drago threatened. "ALL OF YOU!"
"You tell this Nero to come find us and we'll see who hangs. As for you, as always, Drago - go fuck yourself."
The wolf snarled as he reached out for her but his legs were caught between the steering column and the seat, rendering him incapacitated.
Under the surface, Hawk's thermal clothing and armour was beginning to fail him and Manic watched as his rival sunk into the depths, ending the psychotic criminal once and for all. He popped out of the ice like a torpedo and landed on solid ground, shaking his soaking wet quills before joining Starr.
"That thing's pretty strong." She said, pointing at the Medallion hanging around his neck.
"Hell yeah it is. This baby kept me alive in the vacuum of space and now the ice water." Manic replied. "I'm a damn machine with this."
"Yeah, but you still can't fly." Starr said as she used her ability to lift off the ground and reach the chopper above.
"First off, that's levitating, and second you got those powers from this thing, must I remind you."
The green hedgehog got a running start, jumped as high as he could and reached out for Starr's awaiting hand. She caught him and he swung across to the landing gear on the left side of the chopper. The elementals flipped off Drago as they turned to leave, and Tails mock saluted him the same way he'd done at the G.U.N Control Tower.
"Okay, we got SAGE back, Miles," Fiona said. "What's the plan now?"
"I was thinking over what Magnus said to me. Maybe repurposing it is a better idea."