Chapter 4: Infiltration
"Tangle's log,
It's been about a week since the baseball game. While Eggman got away with the second Chaos Emerald that day, I won't let that get me down! We'll find a way to get that one back, so for now we are focusing on finding the other five.
A couple of days ago, me, Sonic, Tails and Chris all went for a flight on the X-Tornado to try and find an emerald, but came up with nothing… also, Sonic almost fell off the plane.
Then, the next day, Chris ended up getting a bit of a lead on what might of been a Chaos Emerald, so we went to check it out with a couple of his friends from school as well as Amy… either we were sent on a wild goose chase, or someone got to it before us… great.
Might not seem like much, but that is pretty much everything that's been going on. I've been practicing with my tail a lot of course, with me starting to practice fighting with it now. This thing really packs a punch though!"
"Alright, let's see if you can break this!" Chuck said as he pointed to a giant rock next to him.
"…Where did you get that?" Tangle asked.
"I know a guy in construction, he said this was in the way, so I told him I could use it." Chuck explained.
"… Gotcha…" Tangle said as she began to wind up her tail.
When she sent it shooting forward though, she was amazed to see that the rock completely broke apart on impact, leaving just a pile of rubble in it's wake.
"Wow!" Tails said. "Talk about powerful!"
"AWWWW YEAH!" Tangle said. "We are going places with power like that!"
She then proceeded to give her tail a high five.
"That being said, Tails told me that just having power is not everything, and I need to be able to use it well. Makes sense, so I have been trying to practice using my tail in fights… though it is hard to do that when I don't want to risk hurting someone by accident.
Anyways, something else that's been on my mind though is that bat girl, Rouge. I haven't heard from her at all since I met up with Sonic and the others. I hope she's alright…
Welp, that's all I got to say! Everyone went out looking for a Chaos Emerald already, so I am gonna spend the day practicing. I better get to it!"
The White House
"So that's the plan." The general said.
"Hmm… I see." The President said. "And what are the chances that we could get Sonic to help us?"
"Knowing that guy, not too high." Rouge said. "He marches at the beat of his own drum that one."
"I see… I would like to get some additional help from Sonic and his friends truth be told." The president said.
"Understandable, just having one of them would increase the chances of success by a large margin." Topaz said.
"Hmmm… well, I may not be able to get Sonic's help, but I think I know someone who would be a lot more willing." Rouge said.
"Really?! Who?" Topaz asked.
"Well…"
Shortly after putting the notebook down, Tangle heard a knocking at the window in the living room.
"Huh?"
She went over to the window and opened it, and was surprised at what, or rather, who she saw.
"Rouge?" Tangle asked.
"Well well, looks like you found Sonic and the others just fine." Rouge said as she flew in through the window.
"Yeah, thanks to you." Tangle said. "Thanks a lot for that by the way."
"Don't mention it. Actually, I am here to cash in on that favor you owe me." Rouge said.
"Oh… right yeah I guess I do owe you one…" Tangle said. "Alright, what's going on?"
"Well, let's just say that I had been having fun stealing some nice gems lately…"
"THAT WAS YOU?!" Tangle asked. "Nope, no way, not helping you steal something."
"Oh just listen, I'm not asking you to help steal something." Rouge said. "I ended up getting caught… and the president then recruited me into the military."
"Wait, what?" Tangle asked.
"Don't ask, they seem to think I would be a good asset. And I am getting amnesty for my previous crimes, which is nice." Rouge said. "That being said though, we are planning an attack on Eggman."
"You are?"
"Yup, and we were hoping that you could help us out." Rouge said.
"Why me?" Tangle asked.
"Sonic's too much of a loose cannon to rely on helping us, Tails and Amy would only really follow him, the rabbit is too young and Knuckles is who knows where right now." Rouge explained. "You're the only one we can reliably recruit for this."
"I… see…" Tangle said. "But you have to realize, I haven't really gotten in a fight with Eggman or his robots before. I don't know know how helpful I would be."
"Oh please, I'm sure you'll be fine." Rouge said. "That pile of rubble in the back yard tells me that you could hit hard at least."
"How do you know that was me?" Tangle asked.
"I have my ways." Rouge said.
In truth, one of the President's spies were keeping an eye on them, and he got footage of her destroying the rock.
"Also, we all saw what happened during the baseball game." Rouge said.
"You mean me getting knocked out?" Tangle asked.
"Yeah, but I think even Knuckles would of been hurt pretty bad from a baseball going over two hundred miles per hour hitting his head." Rouge said.
"… It was going THAT FAST?!" Tangle asked.
"Apparently. And you were able to get up and keep going after that." Rouge said. "That means you can really take a hit."
"Alright…" Tangle said. "You… really believe that I can help?"
"Yup."
"… Alright, I'll do it… but under one condition." Tangle said.
"And that is?"
"We have to try and take back the Chaos Emerald that Eggman took during the baseball game." Tangle said.
"I was already planning on it." Rouge said. "Don't worry, it should be right around where our target is."
"Alright, good." Tangle said. "Let's get going."
And with that, the two left through the window.
"Ms. Tangle? Who are you talking to?" Cream asked as she walked into the room. "Ms. Tangle?"
"You must be Tangle, it's a pleasure to meet you." The President said as he extended his hand.
"Oh uh… nice to meet you too." Tangle said as they shook hands. "So uh… what's the plan here?"
"Our air and sea forces will be causing a diversion with a direct attack on Eggman's base. Then a smaller team, which you will be on, will infiltrate the base and destroy the reactor." The General explained.
"Sounds simple enough." Tangle said. "When do we leave?"
"You shall be heading out right away." The President said. "One of agents has confirmed that your friends have found a Chaos Emerald, and we believe that Eggman will be leaving his base to try and take it."
"They found one?!" Tangle asked. "That makes three now!"
"Indeed." The President said. "While I would like to know more about these emeralds, that could wait. For now, we must strike. Good luck team."
And with that, they were off.
Meanwhile
"Mr. Sonic!" Cream shouted as she ran up to Sonic.
"What's up kiddo?" Sonic asked.
"The president is launching an attack on Dr. Eggman!" Cream said. "And not only that, I can't find Ms. Tangle anywhere!"
"What?!" Sonic asked.
Cream just nodded her head. "I thought I heard her talking to someone about Dr. Eggman, but when I walked into the room, she was gone!"
"Don't tell me she's planning on going to Eggman's base…" Sonic said. "We gotta get over there and help out!"
"Right!"
The two of them then went off to find Tails so they could take the X-Tornado.
Later, in Eggman's base
"Alright, we're in." Rouge said. "Let's get moving."
"Right!" Tangle said as they began to follow Rouge.
Not long after though, they stopped.
"Great…"
"What's up?" Tangle asked.
"We got company." Rouge said as a robot walked into view.
Tangle swallowed thickly at this. "Ok… first robot…"
"You'll be fine, just follow my lead!" Rouge said as she leapt into action, kicking the robot with all her might and sending it backwards a bit.
Following Rouge's example, Tangle charged forward, and shot her tail towards the robot at full power, punching a sizable hole in it's chest.
"HAHA! GOTTEM!" Tangle said as the robot collapsed to the ground.
'Dang, that tail really does pack a punch… that thing's armor was thick!' Rouge thought. "Good work, now, let's keep moving."
"Right!" Tangle said in high spirits.
Eventually, they arrived at their destination.
"There's the location!" Topaz shouted as they began to approach the door.
Suddenly, another large robot identical to the previous one burst through the wall.
"Another one?!" Tangle asked.
"Don't worry, we can handle it. You guys just go in and get started!" Rouge said, gesturing to Topaz and the troops with them.
"Right." Topaz said.
While Tangle and Rouge began fighting the robot though, a bunch of turret robots rose up from the ground and began firing at the group.
"What in the wo-" Tangle said before getting cut off by a laser brushing across her right arm. "Ow!"
"You alright?" Rouge asked, but was then suddenly grabbed by the robot they were fighting… only for her to quite easily destroy the claw.
'Remind me to never make her mad…' Tangle thought.
"We're pinned!" Topaz shouted as they all ducked under some lasers.
Suddenly, Knuckles burst into the room, and began to tear the robots apart.
"Wait… what?" Tangle asked. "Knuckles, when did you get here?"
"I uh… may or may not of just hitched a ride…" Knuckles said. "Wait, Tangle? What are you doing here?"
"Helping out, duh!" Tangle said.
"Ok, but helping out with what?" Knuckles asked.
"Destroying this place." Rouge said. "Now come on, we have work to do."
"Uh… right. I guess I can help out with that." Knuckles said. "Lead the way!"
And with that, they all went into the power station.
"So, we just gotta go down this hole that you made the last time you were here, and they will plant the bomb, right?" Tangle asked.
"Yeah, you mind lending them a hand in getting down there?" Rouge asked.
"Sure." Tangle said as she began stretching her tail to be used as a makeshift rope. "Just don't pull on it too hard, ok?"
"Right." Topaz said as they all began to climb down the tail.
"So, where is that Chaos Emerald?" Tangle asked.
"Hold that thought." Rouge said as she suddenly kicked behind her.
Turns out, there was a drone monitoring the room.
"Anyways, last time we were here it was up here… but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore…" Rouge explained.
"Ugh… seriously?" Tangle asked. "Well, hopefully Tails and the others were able to get that third Emerald…"
At that moment though, the entrance to the room suddenly became sealed shut.
"What in the world?" Tangle asked.
"Looks like we're locked in…" Rouge said.
"What?!" Topaz asked as she climbed back up the tail.
"Don't worry, I'll have us out of here in a jiffy." Rouge said as she went over to kick the door.
Only for it to not have any effect.
Then Knuckles tried punching it, to the same result.
"Let me try." Tangle said as she sent her tail at the door with full force. Again though, nothing.
Topaz then asked if they could disarm the bombs, but was horrified to find out that it would be impossible.
"Come on! Maybe if all three of us attack it, we can get through in time!" Knuckles said as he got to punching.
Rouge then joined in with a flurry of kicks, as Tangle began to punch the door with her tail.
After a while, they managed to deal some good damage to the door, before the entire building began to suddenly shake.
"I don't like where this is going…" Tangle said.
"Together now!" Knuckles said as they all wound up for a large attack.
And they managed to blow a hole into the door.
"ALRIGHT!" Tangle shouted. She then took a look at the hole in the door, and saw…
"GET DOWN!" She shouted as they all ducked underneath a beam of light that suddenly tore through the door and into the room. "Was that Sonic?"
Tangle then noticed that Knuckles and Rouge began to argue over… something.
"Come on! We gotta get going!" Tangle shouted as she began running.
Eventually, they all made it outside of the base, just before it all went up in flames.
When it was all said and done, the base was gone.
"Wait… where's Sonic?" Tangle asked.
Suddenly something shot out from the smoke and landed on the X-Tornado flying above them. Tangle looked up to see Sonic, and he was holding two Chaos Emeralds!
"ALRIGHT!" Tangle shouted.
Meanwhile, up with Sonic.
"Sonic? You alright? You seem kinda worried about something." Chris asked.
"…Tangle was in there." Sonic said.
"What?!" Tails asked. "Did she get out in time?"
"That's what I'm worried about." Sonic said as he began looking around. Eventually, his eyes landed on the group on the ground. "Found her! Go down for a landing."
"Right!" Tails said as he began to descend before switching to X-Cyclone for a landing.
"SINCE WHEN DOES THAT THING HAVE LEGS?!" Tangle asked. "THAT'S SO CO-"
She was cut off when she noticed how upset that Sonic looked.
"What in the world were you doing in there?!" Sonic asked.
"Uh… they wanted my help with the mission… so…" Tangle said.
"So you, someone who has had zero experience in fighting Eggman or his robots, thought it would be a good idea to just barge into his base?!" Sonic asked.
"Uh… I… uh…"
"Hey Sonic, ease up a bit." Tails said. "She's ok, that's all that matters…"
"She almost died in there Tails… I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if that happened…" Sonic said. "Listen, I know you are eager to help out. I get that, but please, don't be so quick to jump into danger like that. You could of at least told us that you were going…"
"R-right… I'm sorry." Tangle said.
"While I agree that she was being a bit dumb, she actually did a really good job." Rouge said.
"You were the one who invited me…" Tangle mumbled out.
Ignoring Tangle's remark, Sonic turned to Rouge. "Really?"
"Oh yeah, took out a robot in one shot that even I would of had trouble breaking through it's armor." Rouge said. "That tail of hers really packs a punch."
'Wait, but she did the same thing a bit later…' Tangle thought, but then she noticed Rouge smirk in her direction.
Rouge was covering for her.
"Really now? Well, that is pretty impressive." Sonic said. "… Alright fine, you did a good job in there, just make sure you tell us the next time you plan on doing something like this, ok?"
"Right…" Tangle said.
"Anyways, Tails, get some bandages out? We should probably wrap up that arm of hers."
"Huh? What are you talking…" Tangle said as a sharp pain suddenly shot through her right arm.
That's right, that laser from before.
"OW!" Tangle said.
"Guess the adrenaline from the whole situation dulled the pain." Knuckles said.
"Here, let's clean the wound and get it patched up." Tails said as he came back with a first aid kit.
Shortly after, the wound was patched up and the group said goodbye to Knuckles and Rouge. After that, they took off, with Tangle in tow.
While they were flying back however…
"Hey uh… Tangle?" Sonic suddenly said. "Sorry about being so mad at you before."
"It's no problem, you were right, I was being kinda dumb." Tangle said.
"Still, doesn't excuse me yelling at you." Sonic said. "It's just… I've been doing this hero thing for a while now. I've seen a lot of things…"
"Sonic?"
"I'm gonna be honest with you Tangle, I'm not perfect. I've seen people die before… and had to tell their friends and family about it." Sonic said. "It… isn't easy… on the outside, I have to try and keep a straight face… look tough in the face of adversity… but on the inside…"
"It tears you apart." Tangle said.
"Yeah… I just… when I saw that you were hurt… I just thought about having to tell Jewel what had happened if you died…" Sonic said. "That… that would break me, telling her that you died, and just after I agreed to help you…"
"Sonic…" Tangle said before tearing up a bit. "I'm so sorry..."
"Don't be… you just wanted to help." Sonic said. "Again though, tell us when you plan on doing something like that."
"You got it." Tangle said.
The two then looked on as they flew back to the house.
End of Chapter 4
I was not planning on posting this today originally, but I realized that today is the anniversary of Tangle's first comic's appearance, so I figured why not!
I would like to reiterate that Sonic is taking on a bit of a mentoring role with Tangle in this story. He has been shown to get a bit mad at his friends when he thinks they do something dumb, as shown in Sonic Lost World, so I think he would scold Tangle on going off without telling him.
Anyways, next chapter is actually going to be fully original. It'll take place in between episodes 13 and 14 in the anime, so you don't really need to keep watching any further to be up to date on what happens.
So, see you all next time!