Sonic groaned as the light bore down on him as he sat next to a table in an otherwise dark room, he raised his hand to try to block some of the glare. "What do you think I am? A begonia who hasn't gotten enough sun?"

"I'll ask the questions here little boy blue," said a gruff voiced older human with a grey mustache wearing sunglasses and a black dress suit. "I'm Mr. Sharp, I represent GUN's Reconnaissance and Intelligence Service."

"So, you're a spy?"

Sharp banged the table. "I said I'll ask the questions here! Now start from the beginning!"

Sonic huffed. "Don't know about you Mack, but for me it started after one of your guys decided to sucker punch me at my own wedding!"

24 hours ago

Shadow punched Sonic in the face, the blue hedgehog was sent crashing into the wedding cake to the gasp of the crowd.

"Shadow stop it!" screamed Sally. "I don't know what your beef with Sonic this time is, but you have no right to do this!"

"Just the opposite princess," said Rouge. "He has every right," Omega then held out a document to Sally in his clawed hand. "And this little piece of paper gives it to him."

Sally snatched the document from Omega. As she read it her expression changed from incensed to fearful.

"Sally girl!" asked Bunnie. "What's wrong?!"

"Th-this," Sally stammered. "This is a warrant!"

"A warrant?!" yelled Tails.

"Exactly," said Shadow.

The black hedgehog towered over the blue one as he started to stir and wipe cake off his uniform. Shadow now held a pair of handcuffs.

"Sonic the Hedgehog, by the authority of the Mobian Accords and Guardian Units of Nations I hereby place you under arrest!"

Moments later Sonic was handcuffed at sat down at a table that unknown to him was very recently occupied by a group of kids that nearly crashed his wedding.

Shadow came in along with Rouge, Omega, Sally, Tails, Bunnie, Antione, Rotor, Nicole and Amy.

"Extradition is something both the Republic and the Federation agreed to in the accords," said Sally. "But even then, there's requirements to our cooperation. We need to see if the charges and evidence are reasonable enough for a trial before Sonic can be released into your custody."

"Yeah," said Sonic. "Spill it so can I tell you why you're wrong then Sally and Me can move onto something really personal and important for the both of us and neither wants to wait any longer for it."

"You sure seem calm, for someone who's getting arrested," said Rouge.

"I've been accused of crimes by 'the good guys' so much that I'm part of the frequent diner program at the prison cafeteria, lock me up and I get the consolation prize of a free hoagie on my next visit."

Shadow growled as he sat down and presented a tablet that had the G.U.N. logo on the back. "Early this morning there was a break in at the Energy Research Administration in Central City. Having acquired a chaos emerald for E.R.A. a few weeks ago Team Dark was called in to secure the lab and apprehend the intruders. This is footage of our confrontation."

The video shown three Mobians in black armor; a skunk, a cat and a hedgehog taking the purple emerald from a glass cylinder. As Team Dark came into the room and began fighting the thieves Tails, Bunnie, Antione, Rotor, Nicole and Amy were beginning to come to the same conclusion.

"That's your evidence?" scoffed Sally.

"Keep watching," said Rouge.

The thieves gave a better fight than expected, the cat used martial arts manuvers to dodge Omega's attacks, the skunk employed an acrobatic hit and run style and the hedgehog matched Shadow's speed perfectly. Shadow threw a chaos spear point blank at the hedgehog who managed to dodge to the side, but part of his helmet was destroyed. The rectifier glared back for a moment before they all ran away with the emerald. Shadow rewound the image and paused on to show that it seemed like part of Sonic's face was visible through the hole in the helmet.

"Care to explain that?" growled the black hedgehog.

Sonic just leaned back. "Robot duplicate, alternate universe double, Phantom Ruby illusion, shapeshifting octopus, take your pick. I'm really popular with the copycat crowd."

"You have access to warp rings thanks to the Republic's alliance with Angel Island and you're fast enough that you could have robbed E.R.A. and have made it back here in time for this wedding."

"Ask all the people I saved and crooks I busted on the way over here from Freedom City if I had time for a jewel heist today!"

"I was there, I could tell from his eyes that this wasn't just a sort of copy. Before today I would have believed it was anyone other than you, but he looked at me like he knew my entire history! That's not something you can fake!"

"Maybe that's because he did know," said Amy. "Just not in the way you think."

Sally turned to the pink hedgehog. "You think you know who this imposter is?"

"Not exactly who, but I do have an idea what he and his cohorts are, hang on a moment I have to confirm something with Gold."

Moments later Gold had come in and seen the footage.

"You're right Mom they're the same guys, this also lends credence to some of the rumors I've heard about them."

"Care to share with the rest of the class?" said Sonic.

Gold sighed. "That, is a rectifier, a top elite solider of the Mobius Imperium."

Sally gasped while Sonic raised an eyebrow. "The same Mobius Imperium that doesn't exist anymore in the future after Fiona, Amy and their gang prevented me from dying a couple months back?"

"I thought the same thing myself until this afternoon, looks they came back to this time."

"And how do you know this?" asked Sally.

"Well," said Tails. "There was a bit of an…incident during the wedding. Bunnie and I didn't want your special day interrupted so we asked a few of the guests to handle it quietly, but once it was over Silver, Blaze and Gold told us the rectifiers were the ones responsible."

"That still doesn't explain how these rectifiers are still able to exist now that Sonic survived the moment he was supposed to die," said Shadow. "Or why one of them has Sonic's face."

Gold closed her eyes for a moment. "Our working theory is that saving Sonic wasn't enough on its own, he was supposed to either stop or do something specific and until he does the timeline won't change completely. As for the face all I have is a hypothesis but a very strong one. Everything about the rectifiers was classified; their organizational structure, operations, recruitment, training practices; officially to the average Imperium citizen they don't even exist outside of holo-dramas. The best Final Freedom Fighter estimates put their numbers somewhere under fifty, but there were rumors. A few involved gathering DNA from some of the best Mobian fighters to ever live where it could have been used for anything from screening for descendants for recruitment to genetic enhancement to full out cloning. Given two hundred years and any one of those methods it could be easy for Sonic's DNA and face to end up on a rectifier. The reason for him knowing your history Shadow he likely studied you in preparation for whatever mission he's on. I don't get why they'd be after Chaos Emeralds in the past though, after taking our base the Imperium should have already got all seven in the future plus the Sol Emeralds."

"What we do know is that they have hostages," said Bunnie. "A bunch of kids at that, and they seem to want to get their hands on some data capsule thingamabob. We have less than two days to trade the kids for the capsule, Gold you think our brain trust can get the data off that thing before the trade?"

"We have it," said Gold. "But unfortunately, the thing's busted and given we're dealing with future tech we won't have the time to extract the intel before the deadline. But I'm certain Red Knight, the one from the future that is, somehow sent it back trying to reach us. He must have found more information on how Sonic was supposed to stop the Imperium from rising in the first place."

Sonic stood up. "Then get these cuffs off me and tell me where those rectifier creeps are! I'll save those kids and bring in the faker before the champagne in the honeymoon suite even gets a chance to finish chilling! Then you should have all the time in the world to find out what's in that thing!"

"Until we do confirm this theory, I can't let you out of my sight," said Shadow. "But I agree with your plan, provided I'm in there to get back the emerald they stole."

Shadow took the cuffs off Sonic.

"Fine by me, you can see I'm innocent firsthand. By the way you owe us a wedding cake."

"You can't just rush in guns blazing," said Sally. "Not with so many lives at stake, let me in on what you were planning. As much as I'd like to break in my new husband and get pampered at Emerald Coast, I wouldn't be able to enjoy either unless I knew I helped out this mission however I could."

The Present

"So, we set to work to bust the bad guys," said Sonic. "Want me to go into our plan in detail or just skip to where I proved that it wasn't me?"

"I think you're under a mistaken impression Mr. Hedgehog," said Sharp. "Or are you going by Mr. Acorn now?"

"Hedgehog, we Mobians traditionally to keep our family name, sometimes the more noble name is taken on but usually it's an individual choice."

"Right. Anyway, I've read the initial report your innocence has been proven."

Sonic stood up slamming his hands on the table. "Then why I am still being interrogated?!"

"This isn't an interrogation; this is a debriefing. And we're here to answer the same question my associates are trying to get agents Shadow and Rouge to answer…"

A dark-skinned man with a shaved head in a black suit and sunglasses threw down a set of documents and photos in front of Shadow. "How did this assignment turn into the biggest blunder in the entire history of GUN?! Three operatives getting their backsides handed to them, millions of Unifed Dollars in damage to the Republic landscape, the near destruction of two aerial battleships that cost Federation taxpayers billions all while you let both the objective and the perpetrators get away Scott Free!"

Shadow sat back with his arms crossed. "I don't like your tone Mr. Hammer. If you go around pointing fingers don't be surprised when they get broken."

"Calling me out for pointing fingers?! People in glass houses man! Somebody screwed up and we're going to find out who! Either the Freedom Fighters are going to have to clean house, or we will, it all depends on you explaining to me what went wrong and when! Now if you were so suspicious of Sonic why follow him?"

"I wasn't, I wanted Sonic to be innocent just as much as anyone else. Protocol demanded I ensured the suspect be restrained in the most effective means possible and that's why I attacked him at the reception. But I knew that the fastest way to find who was impersonating him was to work with the guy and make him motivated to clear himself so I played the bad guy."

"So, you requested to bring Sonic in because you really wanted it not to be him?"

"That and I knew none of our other agents were up to the task."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Absolutely not Ms. Pierce," Rouge said to the red headed woman in a black work dress and sunglasses. "I wouldn't dream of insulting a fellow agent."

"I have a hard time believing you, your record shows you have a bad tendency to ignore standard operating procedure."

"I was asked to join in part because I DON'T have a standard operating procedure, it helps to have someone flexible who can take initiative."

"Then let's with start with how you took initiative when it came to planning this operation, your plan that went so sideways it became backwards!"

Rouge narrowed her eyes and sunk down into her chair. "There was no way to tell that then, but I knew from the moment I walked into the room we had our planning session they needed my initiative because the backbone of who they wanted to start this out with was ridiculous."

23 hours ago

Rouge was wide-eyed as she came into the main room of the lodge. "You've got be kidding me."

Several other Freedom Fighters looked at the kids who seemed to be doing their best to avoid looking anyone in the eye. "Shouldn't these kids be at the nearest hotel or something?" asked Sally.

"I wish we could leave them out of this," said Gold. "But these children have managed to enter the Rectifier Base and get out alive, something nobody else has ever done. If The Rectifiers really did steal the emerald, that's where it is and you're going to need all the help you can get to have a chance at success."

Julie-Su gave the Echidna girl a good looking over. "Funny, you seem familiar, but I can't remember you from when almost all the echidna were locked in the Twilight Cage."

"Uh…I was adopted by… Cassowaries!" said Lara-Su as she started to sweat. "We never met before, I'm just a kid after all, hahaha."

"Now that you mention it, I am getting some strange vibes off these kids," said Sonic. "Kinda like déjà vu, can we get your names?"

"Uh, Maril! Maril-In!"

"Yeah," said Sonia. "I'm… Madonna and this is… Tuftee!"

"Hey, I should pick my own fake name!" Manik whispered.

"Gleam," said the white hedgehog. "My brother here is Dusk."

Lara then whispered to Gleam. "What are you doing?!"

"Look a few of these people have already heard our names before we realized what year we we're in, if they ask around, they'll know something is up!"

"Easy for you if our parents hear our names, they might put it together with the family resemblance and we might freak them out of ever having us at all! Best we can do is try to keep those in the know to a minimum until we get home!"

"Let's just get what we need from these grade school bystanders and move on." said Rouge.

"What don't you like kids?" asked Rotor.

"I don't mind them but look at our team. Omega here was built to be a war machine, my early days can be summed up as a riches to rags story where I started a thieving career just to not have an empty belly and Shadow's infancy and childhood consisted of Professor Gerald's computer beaming info into his brain while he slept and grew in a glass tube for a couple of weeks. None of us are exactly used to dealing with children."

"Well for our sakes they better get used to it in about ten years right Gleam?" Dusk quietly muttered.

"I'm not speaking to you outside of emergencies," whispered Gleam. "I still haven't forgiven you reading my diary!"

Rouge turned to the kids. "Alright tell us everything you know so we can send you off to bed and if we like it enough, we'll even let you have some milk and cookies."

"What do you think we're in, preschool?!" Gleam huffed.

Rouge gritted her teeth. "Why you little…!"

"Eh, better let me do the talking Gleam," said Lara. "Honestly, I'm not sure how we can help you get inside, we used one of their escape pods to get out and only saw a hallway, the room they locked us in and some sort of computer lab."

"Why'd would you even go in there?" asked Nicole. "That could have been risky."

"Well, we heard two of them talking to each other, seems like they've been having problems with malfunctions ever since they left home."

Rouge now raised an eyebrow. "What sort of malfunctions?"

"Uh, Stuff on their suits, sensors, cameras…"

"And they were trying to fix them?"

"Of course, they even had to do this whole big thing they had to set down for a couple of days for a diagnostic."

"That explains the generous deadline despite them knowing the kids knew where the capsule was," said Nicole. "They couldn't leave any sooner."

"I'm more interested in the fact that their sensors and cameras were off," said Rouge. "I don't suppose you saw where the windows on that thing were concentrated?"

"No, no windows at all," said Sonia. "We managed to get a look at it after leaving the escape pod."

"So, for right now they're completely blind," Rouge turned to the Freedom Fighters. "I think we should agree to their demands."

"Strange I thought you'd take the more pragmatic approach," said Antione. "If that capsule can prevent the conquest and enslavement of billions in the future, I'd have thought you'd argue we shouldn't give it up to save a few children. I was even going to give this speech about not knowing what the parents would feel."

Manik sighed but then stayed quiet. "Sadly, you'll all find out for yourselves eventually."

"That's the beauty of it my canine cavalier," said Rouge. "Once the trade is made, they won't have it an hour before I steal it back."

"And how are you going to pull that off sugah-bat"? asked Bunnie.

"I'm glad you asked, ok everyone pay attention. Yes, we'll exchange the capsule for the hostages like the rectifiers demanded, but what they won't know is that what looks like capitulation is actually a diversion. While their attention is focused on the transfer a team consisting of Shadow, Sonic, Silver Gold and myself will sneak aboard the base. There should be more than one way in, even if the second isn't meant to be one, and with their equipment malfunctioning this is the best time to do it. Once the hostages are free, we'll just take the capsule, the emerald and the evidence that Sonic was not responsible."

"It won't work," said Gold. "They have at least one rectifier who's telepathic, if she's there she can read their minds and your cover's blown the moment the exchange begins."

"So," said Shadow. "Who has to make the exchange?"

"According to Lucian it was our choice," said Amy.

"Then I shall make the handoff," said Omega. "As a non-organic my mind cannot be read and if problems arise that will be the location with the highest probability for combat."

"You can't do this alone," said Tails.

"Not a problem," Rouge giggled. "You have a few people here with fighting experience who haven't been let in on the full situation, just have them help Omega and mind reading won't get the enemy to learn anything since the targets won't know there's more going on than a prisoner exchange."

"I'm not sure I like this," said Sally. "Even putting aside lying to our friends you'll still have no idea what's waiting for you in there."

"When has that ever stopped us before?" Sonic said with a thumbs up. "Don't worry during my recent zone hopping adventure I picked up a trick from the me that was a split personality to a kid named Nikki Parlouzer. We had to get Nikki and the Sonic in him to work as a team to save his little sister Tiana, after that they taught me how if I focus on my attunement to chaos energy it'll will make me sneeze if danger is coming. Weird and I'm still getting used to getting in the right mindset, but it really comes in handy."

Sally sighed. "Alright, but we'll need some way to get you in there without much notice."

"Standard GUN procedure calls for a high altitude drop for infiltrations like this," said Shadow. "I don't suppose you have an aircraft capable of doing so for a team of five?"

"Construction of the Sky Patrol 2 is complete," said Rotor. "But it's back in Freedom City and we haven't even had the time to give her a proper shakedown run."

"Tails take this," Sonic tossed the two tailed fox a power ring. "That should supe up the Tornado enough for you and Twan to get back to Freedom City and bring the SP2 in time for the mission."

Tails sighed. "So much for you two using it to go off on your honeymoon."

"Look at it this way," Sally said. "A small delay will help a lot of people," then she began running her finger up and down Sonic's chest while giving him a sultry look. "And afterward we can move on to me finally showing you my royal birthmark before we have real fun…without…any…distractions."

Sonic looked back as the bride and groom both looked flushed. "As if I wasn't motivated enough to clear my name and save a bunch of folks."

Sonia and Manik turned beet red before the former began muttering to herself. "I didn't think it was possible but they're embarrassing us before we're even born."

The Present

"So, you can see I'd REALLY like to help you so we can end through this interview and I can back to my wife…"

"If she waited this long the princess can be patient until we get to the bottom of this kerfuffle," said Mr. Sharp.

"Look it wasn't a total loss, we managed to do a lot of good. It's just that stuff happened."

"And it happened because you couldn't keep your own people under control!"

Sonic stared Sharp back intensely. "I wasn't trying to control them, they asked to deviate a bit and I trusted that it was for a good reason. I'll own up to making a bad call, but I think I made the best one when all of them were going to be bad one way or another."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have been given that leadership position given a comparative lack of education."

"I'm not stupid, Ms. Pierce!" Rouge called back. "Most Mobians in my generation might not have spent a lot of time in the classroom with either fighting a brutal regime or just trying to survive in its shadow but we'd been cramming like hell to make up for it! The streets were a brutal teacher and I think for a spoiled little six-year-old thrown into those lessons I did rather well, so don't lay the operation going wrong on a lack of traditional schooling!"

"It's not your intelligence I'm doubting agent Rouge," said Pierce. "Some of the most foolish people I've met have multiple degrees, it's your judgment in this matter that's in question."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"According to your file you learned something quite surprising about yourself in the last couple of months. After years of being dormant you found out you yourself are an adept then you went to agent Shadow for training in your new powers. I think you were hoping for a fight, you wanted an excuse to show off your new abilities to the Freedom Fighters, perhaps rub it in the faces of Sonic and the like that you can play in the big leagues like them."

"You think I'm that unprofessional? My 'Black Wave' is just another tool in my thieving kit, was I excited when learned I had that power? Of course, who wouldn't be? But the main reason I asked Shadow for training wasn't so I could slap around chumps with it. I'm happy I found out I'm an adept because it gave me something new to share with Shadow, a glimpse into his world."

"And it made me realize that I don't have to be afraid of growing old anymore because I'll have him to grow old with me." She thought to herself.

"Then perhaps it's not your judgement that should be questioned, maybe it's agent Shadow's."

"My judgement?" said Shadow.

"Agent Rouge may have come up with the plan but you're the field commander, so you had the final say on if your team followed it," said Mr. Hammer. "We're aware that you two have gotten, closer in these past three months. Perhaps that created a blind spot as far as your reason goes, maybe best course of action is to separate you two as far your work is concerned if you can't remain objective."

Shadow clenched his fist as yellow electricity crackled over it. "The fact we became soultouched has nothing to do with my decision. Rouge earned my trust long before that, sure she still can get distracted by a shiny bauble every now and then but never, NEVER when lives depend on it. I took every possible consideration when it came to this mission and made the call that her plan had the best chance of success."

"So, you're admitting that you were the one who screwed up?"

Shadow unclenched his fist. "Yes, it was my mistake. But it was also Rouge, Omega, Sonic, Sally and everyone who made that same mistake, one we all should have seen coming."

"Just what are you saying?"

"A few things went wrong, but the first thing that did we could have prevented. On Team Dark's part it was because I thought it would only amount to an annoyance, but for the Freedom Fighters they should have seen it coming given their own history."

12 hours ago

Shadow looked into the Sky Patrol 2's lounge, he said nothing seeing Vector, Mighty, Ray, Cream and Cheese, Marine, Geoffrey, Hershey and Mina stand next to Omega. He moved off into the hanger and he looked at the five children he met last night. "Was it really necessary for the rugrats to be in here? You insisted they be here to meet the freed hostages but the very least you could have done was keep them somewhere out of the way until we've done our job."

"Is it really necessary for you to treat us like babies?" muttered Gleam before thinking to herself. "You never doubted my ability when you knew I was your daughter."

"Just making sure they don't accidently spill the beans to the rescue team," said Sally. "This is where we'll have the most room for the hostages once we have them and seeing some familiar faces should help set them at ease after that ordeal."

"Fine then," Shadow turned to Rouge as he put on a red lensed version of Rouge's "treasure scope". "Go over the plan once more."

"We'll be dropping a bit of a distance from the objective," said Rouge as she put her own scope on. "The Sky Patrol will land in a slow convincing manner giving us time to approach and ID an alternative entrance. Shadow and Sonic will search for this imposter while Gold, Silver and I locate this computer room we were told about and use it to find where they'll store their stolen property, info clearing Sonic and whatever else we can glean. They should know enough about this future tech to be useful. Meanwhile the scopes should get us to locate the emerald."

"What about the kids?" asked Sonic as he finished fastening his parachute. "If those creeps go back on their word…"

"We'll try to locate the hostages and get them out in that case. Try to stay out of sight wherever possible and work quickly, try to be in and out."

"Shouldn't be a problem then, quickly is the only way I know to do this stuff. Still, it's too bad Knux had to leave because of a sudden emergency on Angel Island."

"Remember Sonic," said Gold. "While the rectifiers might be holding back for most of us you have the potential to keep their timeline from existing, that puts a target on your back so don't engage them directly."

"We are almost near ze drop point," Antione said over the PA. "Opening ze hangar door."

The door opened to the badlands near Sand Blast City.

"We jump on my mark," said Shadow. "Ready…"

The next moment Lara leapt out of the hangar and began to glide down to the ground.

"Shoot!" Shadow shout. "Go!"

The team jumped out of the Sky Patrol, Rouge glided down and after a proper distance Sonic and Shadow pulled the ripcord as Silver and Gold used their levitation to slow their decent. On hitting the ground Gold came up to Lara.

"What did I say to you about leaving this to the grown-ups?!"

"I have to do this!" said Lara. "It's my fault my friends are in this mess, I can't just do nothing!"

"The best chance to help them was for us to follow the plan!" Rouge growled. "We can't operate to the best of our ability if have to add babysitting you on top of that! Now go find somewhere to hide and…"

"She's not going to stay put," said Sonic. "We just saw her glide like Knuckles can, that means she's a chaos adept like us. If she has power and wants to help her friends nothing is going to stop her from doing it, I'm speaking from experience here."

"Fine, we'll look after her," said Shadow. "But we can't delay any longer, everyone double time!"

Present

Mr. Hammer glared at Shadow. "So, you're blaming all of this on a little girl?"

"Like I said I thought the most she'd amount to would be an annoyance," said Shadow. "Do I think the Freedom Fighters should have locked those kids in a room until the mission was complete? Absolutely, but as much of a handicap as she was the kid helped, a little. Besides, she only compounded the problems that sprung up later."

"Our operatives went off mission because of you," said Mr. Sharp. "Because you wanted to indulge a request outside your initial stated goals and that cost you what advantage you had!"

"Listen pal," said Sonic. "After what we went through these past few months it seemed extremely important not only for Silver and Gold, not only for our overarching goal, but for the very goals you say I went outside of. There was no way to tell what was going to happen, we adapted to the situation so as far as I see it, no harm, no foul."

"Tell that to Omega, they should be getting done putting him back together right about now."

Sonic sighed. "I'm sorry he got busted up, but if Silver and Gold didn't do what they did it would have cost that woman her life."

Eleven hours, fifty-five minutes ago

The team moved forward until Shadow signaled them to hide behind a small outcropping of rocks, up ahead was a sleek black ship that looked was about twice the size of the Sky Patrol 2 and just radiated dread. A pair of rectifiers, a bee and a vixen, were standing guard by a catwalk leading up into the ship.

"See that landing gear?" Rouge said pointing to the nearest of the large struts keeping the ship off the ground. "That's our way in, we just have to wait until the rescue team lands then that's our cue to climb aboard."

The sky patrol began landing as Alpha two walked out along with a cat, a swallow-tailed bird, a flying squirrel and a hedgehog that was levitating off the ground.

"No sign of the telepath," said Gold. "Either she's watching from inside the ship or one of these others might be able to fill in for her."

Omega's team came down the Sky Patrol's ramp, the robot held out the capsule. "We have obtained the item; delivery will be completed upon release of the hostages."

"First we have to see if it's genuine," said the chipmunk before turning to the bird. "Scan it."

The rectifier looked at the capsule then tapped his helmet before it flashed red. "Another glitch, scan's going a lot slower than it should normally. It'll take thirty minutes."

"Not unless you prove the kids are safe," hissed Vector.

"We already gave you five," said Alpha two. "That's more than enough good faith on our part."

"Please," said Cream. "Their parents must be worried sick."

Omega noted the rescue team climbing up the landing gear.

Geoffrey then came forward. "Maybe you can release a couple in exchange for help with your ship? I know my way around a computer."

"The information on our systems is classified, besides our tech's a bit too much on the advanced side for you."

Marine sat down on a rock. "Strewth. I don't suppose would it be too much for you guys to let me go back on our ship to get a magazine?"

On one of the ship corridors a floor panel was lifted as Lara looked around. "Cost is clear."

The team climbed out as Rouge tapped her scope. "I'm picking up the emerald," she then turned to Gold. "This should also be the same deck the computer room and that hostages are. Can you use your mind reading to confirm that?"

"I better keep it brief," said Gold. She closed her eyes as her forehead mark glowed. "Yes, I'm picking the kids up, they aren't far. But there's another presence, it feels like…" The glow stopped as she turned to Sliver. "IT'S DOCTOR L, SHE'S ALIVE!"

"Doctor L?!" said Silver. "Where?! How?!"

"Why don't you two tell the whole ship we're here?!" Shadow menacingly whispered.

"I'm sorry," said Gold. "But you have no idea how big this is, we have to rescue her."

"But what about my friends?!" said Lara. "We came to save them!"

"And we will," said Silver. "But you want to figure out what's in that capsule as badly as we do, saving Doctor L is our best shot at doing that. She kept Red Knight working for years, if he sent that capsule, she'd know what we have to do to get it working again."

"Then why wasn't she with the other prisoners?" said Rouge. "This could be a trap."

"For us specifically?" said Gold. "I doubt it."

"Then that's it," said Sonic. "We're saving everybody."

"Fine," said Rouge. "But try to keep as low a profile as possible, remember we want those kids to stay put until Omega can finish making the exchange. Our job is to get the capsule back once that's done or to act as double cross insurance."

"Shadow and I will keep an eye on Maril while we find my lookalike," said Sonic. "Rouge you take Silver and Gold then find this Doctor L."

"Maintain radio silence and keep an eye on the clock we have about twenty-five minutes before the exchange should be complete," said Shadow.

"I think we were being held this way," said Lara.

"You're right but I sensed Doctor L in the other direction," said Gold.

"The emerald is on the opposite side of the ship," said Shadow. "We'll rendezvous there, if we have to make an escape try to make it back here."

"In that case let's do it to it!" Sonic said as he gave a thumbs up.

After splitting Sonic stopped his group near a door. "Strange it's marked 'GARDEN', why grow plants in a warship?"

He opened the door and found instead of plants several glass tubes. Most were empty, but some had a clear blue liquid where a rectifier floated held up by a set of wires.

"This is really creepy," said Lara. "You don't think they see us, do you? Or maybe that they're growing these guys in here and that's why they call it a garden?"

"No," said Shadow. "It's more like another technology Professor invented than the tank he used to grow me. There was a prototype on the ARK like this that was supposed to accelerate the body's natural healing process. I think they're unconscious, a side effect of these pods."

Lara came up to one rectifier. "Wait this was the tenrec Miss Gold said was a telepath."

Shadow took a closer look at two of the rectifiers, a cat and a skunk. "And these are two of the same guys who attacked E.R.A."

"Then that must mean…" Sonic looked at another pod and saw a hedgehog inside with broken helmet and a face like his. "Winner, winner, chili dog dinner. Take a picture of me with this handsome devil."

Shadow took out his G.U.N pad and a second later the flash under a small camera in the corner went off. "Good, that should hopefully be enough evidence to satisfy my superiors. Let's go find that Chaos Emerald."

"Uh Mr. Sonic, Mr. Shadow," said Lara. "The hole in his helmet is getting smaller."

Shadow growled as the hole began sealing itself. "Either this armor is made of nanites or it's similar enough to skin and muscle that it can be healed like its wearer's body in this thing."

"Either way we better not stick around for these guys to wake up," said Sonic.

They left the room, not noticing Sonic sniffled or that his double's hand start to twitch as once helmet sealed itself.

"Doctor L should be behind this next door," said Gold as they rounded a corner.

Rogue came to the door and read the sign next to it. "'Cerebral Interrogation'? That doesn't sound good at all."

"All the more reason to get her out of there!" Silver said as he opened the door.

Inside an old human woman with glasses and grey hair in a bun was strapped to standing table while her head was attached to a device hooked into the ceiling. The woman gritted her teeth in pain with a clear nosebleed.

"Doctor L!" Gold shouted. "It's us, we're here to save you!"

"Gold, Silver…" the doctor grunted. "…you two are idiots!"

"Wow," Rouge huffed. "Such gratitude, no wonder you want her back so much."

"If you're here than that means The Rectifiers tracked down Red Knight's data capsule, you have to get it before they do!"

"Way ahead of you Doc," said Silver. "After we use it to save a bunch of hostages, we'll swipe it right back."

"Forget the hostages, take the capsule and get out of here!"

"Doctor L, please!" said Gold. "They're only children!"

"Blast it, Mogul taught you guys how to use your powers responsibly, Edmund taught you to use them smartly but even knowing you were dealing with time they never taught you to think fourth dimensionally! Use the data and stop the Imperium; no Imperium, no rectifiers, no rectifiers and the hostages never get kidnapped! As long as they're in their native timeframe they won't notice when the changes happen!"

"Listen lady," said Rouge. "The exchange is already going on, unless we wait and try to take it after that's over our friends will be met with a face full of laser!"

{Doctor L,} Gold said through telepathy. {The Rectifiers brought the hostages back twenty years from their own time. They'd still be stranded in the past.}

Doctor L groaned. "Great, that complicates things. Alright you three go back out there, do what you got to do to get the capsule and anything else you're after away from The Rectifiers, then you can come and save my sorry ass."

"We're here now!" said Silver. "We just have to unhook you…"

"Ok let me paint it by numbers for you! The Imperium uses this device to extract information directly from a prisoner's brain, but thanks to years spent in study and concentration I managed a way to turn it around on 'em. While they are downloading info from me, I've been hacking into them. I figured out a few of their systems except what they classified; I've probably messed up their operations more than anyone in nearly two hundred years of The Rectifiers' existence. Unplug me and not only does that all go away once they reboot the system, but you'll immediately set off every alarm on the ship!"

"And we lose the one edge we have, I see your point," said Rouge. "Ok the exchange should be complete in about twenty minutes; how long do you think you can keep this up?"

"Depends, how well do I look?"

Gold winced at the obvious pain L was in. "Not good at all."

"Like death huh? Then get going, I probably won't last that long at this rate. As much as I like not dying you need that capsule more than this sorry old bag."

"The capsule is useless without you!" said Silver. "Whatever happened to it in the timestream it's severely damaged, without your knowhow we might not be able to get the info off it at all!"

Doctor L gave a dry laugh. "So, the universe is that determined to be a pain in my wrinkly old ass today! Alright use the panel over there to shut this thing off, all these complications are starting to make me wish Von Schlemmer didn't have to blow himself up a month ago to safeguard that video file led you to this time just so he could be here instead of me."

Rouge worked the panel and after pressing a few buttons the helmet and manacles let go of the elderly human woman, a second later red lights began flashing as klaxons bleared.

"Intruder alert, intruder alert!" said a computerized voice. "Unauthorized systems access detected!"

Suddenly a bat and a female hedgehog rectifier came into the room. Each drawing a staff and some darts.

"Great these guys again!" said Silver as Gold picked up Doctor L. "I don't suppose you have another stun gun you can reintroduce them to?"

Doctor L laughed dryly. "Sorry, left my backup in my other lab coat."

"Prepare to rectify!"

The Present

"So, it was your fault," said Ms. Pierce.

"Haven't you been paying attention?" said Rouge. "Without Dr. L's help we'd be missing out on vital intel and if we didn't act then she might not have made it out alive!"

"Then why haven't you included that intel in your report?"

Rouge sighed. "Turns out using your brain to hack a super advanced battleship while it's being probed takes a lot out of you, she's still recovering in the hospital."

"That still doesn't explain everything, something not going to plan is to be expected in our line of work."

Rouge slumped over the table. "If it was just one thing, we could have adapted but that was just the first domino. Not only that we seriously underestimated just how strong the enemy was."

"Alright then, let's get to the part where our three top operatives got beaten like fresh recruits on the first day of boot camp."

Eleven hours thirty-five minutes ago

Outside the ship Alpha two was keeping an eye on the swallow tail when the computer spoke through their helmets.

"Intruder alert, intruder alert! Unauthorized systems access detected!"

"Deal's off!" said Alpha two. "All units take no chances, destroy the device!"

The bird rectifier charged his wrist laser only for the capsule to vanish from Omega's hand after Mina snagged it away at high speed.

"I don't know what's going on but if you're willing to break it rather than not have it then we'll just make sure it sticks around until all those kids are safe and sound!"

On the Sky Patrol's bridge Sally bolted up from her seat. "Guys I'm going out to support the rescue team. Tails, Rotor offer fire support; Bunnie, Twan prep the SP2 for takeoff! Blaze go down to the hangar to prepare to repel borders and make sure those kids stay put!"

Outside Omega exposed all his weapons. "Negotiations have failed, excellent!"

The robot fired only for the cat to step in up to the barrage, however once the smoke cleared the rectifier was still standing without so much as a scratch.

"Nice try toaster, but I'm invulnerable!"

The bird, bee and flying squirrel went airborne, Cream and Cheese gave chase while Marine shot water from the ground. "You guys need to cool off!"

"Rrrgh!" The vixen rectifier leapt towards Geoffrey and Hershey, the two dodged as her fist left a small crater in the ground where her punch landed.

"Careful luv!" said Geoffrey. "These guys aren't messing around!"

"Mighty we could use your strength to match hers right about now!" said Hershey.

Mighty ducked so that aura covered sword would bounce off his shell before it made a midair U-turn. "This guy has got me a little preoccupied at the moment!" He grunted as the hedgehog levitated the sword into its next attack. "I have to keep my back turned to him or he'll make me a psychic shish kabob!"

"I'm on it!" Vector said as he ran up to the rectifier. The hedgehog just took a moment to turn an use his PK to grab Vector before throwing him at Mighty sending the two sprawling in a heap.

The sky patrol's guns kept the rectifiers moving as Mina was being chased by Alpha two who moved with incredible speed.

"Hand it over! You can't hope to outrun me!"

"Not without those kids!"

"Mina hand it to me!" Sally said as she came out of the Sky Patrol.

The mongoose passed the capsule. "I'll see if I can help out the others!"

Alpha two came forward slowly. "Princess Sally Alicia Acorn. I should have known you'd try out something crafty like this, I'm betting you somehow figured out what's in that capsule."

"No but I was told who you people are," said Sally. "For someone coming back from the future your timing's lousy, this derailed me and Sonic's honeymoon plans, so you put me in a bad mood."

"You think whatever data you hope to recover will stop us from bringing order to this galaxy? I think I'll slow down a bit just to savor proving how outmatched you are."

Sally activated her ring blades. "However, you got them it's clear they added Sonic's speed to my tactical prowess. I'm betting that whatever part of me in is in you is already telling you that this is wrong."

"You'd never understand," Alpha two flashed a pair of blue rings on her wrists which sparked energy forming a sword in her right hand and a shield in her left. "But feel free to see the ring-based weaponry your blades inspired and how strong it has gotten after two hundred years of development!"

Sally and Alpha two clashed, while the princess held her own, she couldn't so much a scratch her opponent. Suddenly Omega stepped in unloading his gatling guns. "Switching priority to damageable target, enjoyment factor increased 100%."

"Enjoy this!" Alpha one used her speed to avoid the shots then cut off Omega's left arm, right arm, then cut him in half at the waist before going back to Sally.

"Loss of 50% of arsenal, targeting ability reduced significantly, get back here so I can leak oil on you!"

"Sonic," Sally thought to herself. "I hope you guys are doing a lot better in there, because I'm not sure we can hold these guys off!"

Sonic, Shadow and Lara-Su continued down the corridor. "We should reach where your friends are being kept before we get to where the Chaos Emerald is," said Shadow. "We may have to find an alternate route."

Lara shot Shadow a worried look. "Can't we at least tell them that help is here?"

Before Shadow could answer alarms started going off. "Intruder alert, intruder alert! Unauthorized systems access detected!"

Shadow growled. "Something must have gone wrong on Rouge's end!"

"Then we better get those kids out of here!" said Sonic.

"My mission is to retrieve the emerald!" said Shadow. "We can't afford to split up now!"

"Those kids are closer; people's lives are at stake!"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to do either," said the Hedgehog rectifier who was in the tube earlier as he strutted up to them. "I'm impressed you managed to find your way aboard The Mourning Star, but that's going to prove to be the worst mistake of your lives."

"Maril," Sonic said to Lara. "Get to your friends and stay with them, we'll handle this creep."

Lara seemed to want to say something but then took one look at the rectifier before nodding and running off.

"You should take your own advice," said the rectifier. "You can't hope to beat me."

"Then why did your boss use you try to frame me instead of sending you to kill me like last time faker number six hundred and something?"

"My designation is Alpha one, the other one seeing my face was purely by chance. As to anyone going back to kill you, I was not made aware of any mission like that. I guess I better subdue you until I can confirm such an operation with the Superior Council."

"Not happening," said Shadow. "I held my own in a one on one, Sonic will probably but in regardless of if I need him or not, so you have no chance now that you face two of the strongest beings on the planet."

Alpha one growled. "I'm going to prove just how wrong you are!"

Alpha one's chest plate opened to reveal a chrome device attached to his skin before he used his fist to push down the button on its surface. A computerized voice spoke out from his suit.

"Engaging Mode R."

In only a second a light from the device swept over the rectifier causing him to take on a completely metallic appearance as the chest plate closed.

"Did that guy just roboticize himself?!" said Shadow.

"Oh, Mode R is much more that outdated tech!" said Alpha one. "It is the ultimate fusion of organic and synthetic!"

Alpha one began moving so fast that Sonic and Shadow began speeding through the corridor just to keep up. They both tried to attack only to have them be shrugged off and sent hurtling to the ground with each counterattack. "Man, if these creeps can just turn on a super form with the push of a button, I don't know how we can beat them!"

The bat rectifier tossed his darts into the Cerebral Interrogation room. Silver used his PK to stop them midair then pulled the staff out of the other rectifier's hands before crumpling them all into big metal ball. "Why didn't I think of doing this back then?" said Silver. He then threw the ball at the rectifiers. "Not so tough without your toys, are you?!"

The female hedgehog suddenly materialized a glaive and cut the ball cleanly in two.

"They have magic too?!" said Gold. "Why didn't she use that before?!"

"You're surprised that the Imperium wouldn't use every possible tool at their disposal?" croaked Doctor L.

"Well, I have some tricks up my sleeve too!" said Rouge before spreading her hand forward. "BLACK WAVE!"

As black rings spread out from Rouge the bat rectifier then spread his hand as he stepped in its path.

"BLACK WAVE!"

He launched an identical attack that met Rouge's and the resulting blast she her and her team hurtling towards the back wall.

"So, they copied me too," grumbled Rouge as she got up. "I'm actually flattered."

Blast the wall!" said Silver. "We have to get out of here!"

Rouge used another black wave to blast a hole back to the hallway and ran down only to get stopped by three echidna rectifiers. There was the burly one Gold and Silver had encountered before, one of a more modest build who was holding some odd device, but Silver's eyes were firmly locked on the female who was leading them.

"It's you," Silver snarled. "You're one who killed Edmund!"

"No," groaned Dr. L. "He was beaten, but still alive when they brought me onboard."

"Oh him," said Alpha three. "Once the lady here was taken away, I followed Superior Prime's orders and finished what I started."

Silver formed a blade of psychic force between his hands. "MURDERER!"

Present

"So, the guy wiped the floor with ya," said Agent Sharp.

"It actually wasn't that different from when I fought Super Scourge," said Sonic. "He was just a bit more tactical in our thrashing and the restraint to slam us into the wall instead through it."

"Didn't expect these guys to have that sort of power. I'm surprised you made it back alive, considering their big boss supposedly tried to rub you out once."

Sonic sighed. "As much as they turned out to handicap us when it came to the emerald, we wouldn't have made it without Maril-In and her friends."

11 hours thirty-three minutes ago

Lara ran down the hallway until she found the door the remembered falling out of. She found the keypad that kept it locked nearby. "Ok, need a four-digit code but no techie to help or any idea of what it is. I'm not strong enough to punch through it yet so what would the Chaotix do in my position if the door couldn't be busted and Mom or Espio wasn't around to hack it?"

Lara then began pushing buttons. "1-1-1-1." The panel buzzed with a red light. "Ok, 1-1-1-2." Another buzz. "1-1-1-3?" A third buzz. "Ah who am I kidding?! This is like something Vector would come up with and he's nowhere near a tech savvy as Argyle. I feel like my Dad right now, as smart as he is daddy spent so long shunning technology he can't figure out the tv remote half the time!"

"Chao!"

Lara looked up and saw a vent was punched out of the wall and a chao with a green bandana around its neck peeking out. "Pull, boy am I glad to see you! Taffy asked you find a way out for the others, right? Before we take them out mind pulling me up and in so I can talk with everyone?"

"Chao."

A moment later Lara found herself on the other side of the wall.

"LARA!" Kneecaps shouted. "You're ok! Did you bring help?!"

Lara cleared her throat. "Sonic and a lot of our parents are trying to get all of us out of here."

"See kids," said Rora. "Things will turn out alright, the Freedom Fighters will get us out of this then we can all go home."

As everyone cheered Lara looked down. "Actually, there's something important you all have to know first."

Everyone turned to Lara's direction. "What do you mean?" asked Argyle.

"These guys, The Rectifiers, they really did come from the future. But after they captured us, they took all to the past."

"Just how far in the past are we talking?" asked Rutan.

"Me, Sonia, Manik, Dusk and Gleam…we saw Sonic and Sally at their wedding."

Everyone gasped.

"But that was like, twenty years ago," said Aleena.

Eddie looked shocked. "I-if that's true then somewhere in the world right now Mom's pregnant with me!" He turned to Alexis, Kneecaps, Enerjak and Aurora. "You guys are all still in diapers!" He turned again to Skye and Taffy. "And your grandmother Vanilla is probably pregnant your uncle Feels but doesn't even know it yet!"

Jackie looked uneasy like the rest of the camp counselors but after looking at the kids gave a resolute nod. "Look this bucket took us away from home, it can get us back."

"Like that's going to happen!" said Grace. "We're sorry we tried to escape Mr. Rectifier." She said in a sarcastic tone. "But can you pretty please with marshmallows take us back to our own time anyway? GET REAL!"

"Then we make it happen sis!" yelled Brawn. "I say we go out there and take this ship back home ourselves!"

"But those guys look so scary…," said Ian.

"I'm with Brawn!" said Cocoa. "We have to at least try at least!"

"Right now, the Freedom Fighters are fighting them," said Lara. "But even they're having a tough time and here they're all in their prime. I was told to just come here and hide."

"Then maybe we should do that," said Aura.

"And if they can't win?" growled Ace. "What then?"

"That's why we gotta help 'em!" said Belle.

"But if they can't beat these bullies, what chance do we have?" cried Candy.

"Nothing's going to happen if we just stay here!" said Jacques.

"Think rationally," said Alan. "All of us would just get in the way!"

"So, you're saying we should just give up?!" said Salma.

"Maybe we should think of plan first," said Gasket.

Soar fidgeted. "But we're running out of time!"

Ajax pounded his fist into his hand. "I say we go out and hit something!"

"Let's sneak our way to where they steer the ship!" said Juanita.

"This reminds me of a story," said Slim.

"Newsflash skinny cat!" growled Gale. "Nobody cares!"

"Let's just get off the ship and find another way home!" shouted Mellow.

"But how do we keep from getting caught?!" said Tide.

"I wish the others were still here," said Taffy.

"Yeah, Sonia would know what to do," said Skye.

"Forget it," said Melody. "She'd be just as lost as the rest of us, like how she thought we all were only sent to camp because of when we all got kidnapped five years ago."

"Don't you mean fifteen years from now?" said Argyle.

"As if time travel hasn't screwed my family tree up enough!" moaned Aleena.

Pretty soon all the kids descended into an argument where everyone was talking but nobody was listening.

"STOP IT!"

Everyone quieted down and turned to Alexis who was softly sobbing.

"Sonia wasn't wrong, not completely. Your parents did arrange for this group to be at Camp Great Oak, but it wasn't because you were kidnapped, if anything you were kidnapped in part because of the reason you all ended up here."

Alexis sat down bringing her knees to her chin. "Soon after each of you were born your parents noticed something different about you, you all managed to connect with each other when you were each less than a year old when you normally would have to be a year and a half before even recognizing others could have thoughts different than you. You played with each other at an age we expected you to only play NEXT to each other. As you grew and more came around the older kids didn't mind, you just made friendship look so easy without even knowing what the word meant. Your parents all thought it meant all of you were going to do something incredibly special together.

"Then five years ago you were taken away, all those horrible things happened to you because of a monster's insatiable need to understand chaos energy. But when they got you back, it was like something was broken. Even as you began to heal you all began drifting further and further apart. As the years passed those early bonds just weakened to point where that great big friendship broke into ever shrinking groups. They hoped beyond hope that by getting the chance to form bonds as they did it would bring back that special connection you all had, but instead if anything you drifted apart more, maybe that connection is never coming back.

Alexis let a few tears fall to the deck. "And if he broke it beyond repair, I guess Synaptix won in the end after all."

"S-synaptix?" Lara muttered to herself. "No, no he can't."

Jani-ca knelt unseen at Lara's side. "Lara, what happened to you? What are you hiding from yourself?"

It was all clear in her mind, Lara was just a five-year-old frozen in terror as a large centipede like creature with three eyes, the left one looking scared, loomed before her with a metallic left claw. But what got her attention was the five-year-old white hedgehog girl in his right claw.

"Run Lara!" the much younger Gleam shouted. "Run before he gets you too!"

But Lara's feet wouldn't move as the creature's metal claw came towards her. She was scooped up as the monster looked at his prize as he laughed with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. "So many wonderful little test subjects! I'm going to have so much fun using you to learn the secrets of the Chaos Force!"

"No, never again," Lara said snaping herself to the present, past, she didn't care. "All my friends were hurt; Gleam was hurt so bad that she went away and came back so different. I just pushed it down, tried to bury it all, but those memories of the other timelines brought back that horrible time too. I remember my friends being hurt; I remember that I promised myself. I promised…"

Lara looked up determined. "I PROMISED THAT I WOULD GROW UP TO BE A GUARDIAN SO MY FRIENDS WOULD NEVER BE HURT LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN!"

"Lara," said Jani before smiling. "You have more reason to be a guardian than any version of us and that's going to push you and your friends to be even greater than in any timeline that came before."

"I don't know if that special bond we had can ever come back, but I'm not giving up on it! We're getting out of here, all of us! Our parents are out there fighting to save us, but they're going to need all the help they can get. The future needs to be saved, but I can't do it alone. I that's why I need the Future Freedom Fighters."

"Of course," said Argyle. "We'll get back with Manik and Sonia…"

"I don't just mean those I asked to join earlier, I also mean Dusk, Gleam and the rest of us kids here!"

"You're serious?!" said Flare. "Us, Freedom Fighters?!"

"It does sound like quite the adventure," said Astral. "But we all saw how strong those guys are."

"Our parents beat the odds so many times before, yeah we're not them, but they've shown it CAN be done. So, who's with me?!"

All the children who only a couple of moments ago were bickering in a panic had all thrown a fist up into the air.

"Hey, hey, ho!"

Alan turned to the counselors. "Can I barrow one of your cell phones? If crawl through the vent with it, I should be able to use it to hack the lock of this door. It'll much faster than all of us heading out one at a time.

"They were right," said Kneecaps as Rora gave her phone to Alan. "These kids are going to do something amazing someday. Alright, let's help them all get out of this lousy room and keep an eye on 'em until everyone's safe and sound."

His fellow counselors all gave a thumbs up. "Roger that!"

Sonic was thrown for a loop by Alpha one and unexpectedly collided with Silver as he was thrown back by an electrified punch.

"Fancy meeting you here," said Sonic as Shadow was knocked into Rouge as Gold did her best to keep Doctor L from getting hurt.

"Won't lie, this was exactly the situation we were trying to avoid."

"You're wrong, it's worse than that."

One super powered rectifier came from one direction while a squad of five came in from the other. "Alpha one!" said the female echidna leading the group. "Use of Mode R hasn't been authorized for this mission! Disengage!"

"I can still take them!"

"The limbic regulators are still offline, it's messing with all our judgements, disengage!"

"But I can…!"

A tone came from Alpha one's suit. "Warning: previous regeneration cycle incomplete. Approaching operational limit, disengaging Mode R."

The metallic sheen began to fade off Alpha one. "You're both lucky you interrupted my beauty sleep, not that it'll save you from all of us."

"Dream on," said Sonic. "It's five on five now."

"Given they're rectifiers that means we're outnumbered by at least two to one!" said Gold.

"Sonic!" everyone turned to behind the rectifier squad to see all the hostages crowding the hallway.

"Maril what are you all doing?!" said Sonic. "You all have to juice now!"

"Maril?" said Aleena. "Juice?"

"I'll explain later," said Lara. "But he meant fade when he said juice."

"Oh, I get it, older lingo," said Salma.

"I can't be that out of date," muttered Sonic.

"Not the point, you all have to get out of here!" said Shadow. "This is way out of your league!"

"None of you are leaving," said Alpha three. "All we have to do is…"

"This is Epsilon two," said a voice coming from all rectifier suits. "The intrusion into our systems ceased when prisoner 4-4-7 was disconnected from the cerebral interrogator. System reboot is now complete, limbic regulators are coming back online and we just received new orders from Superior Prime. We're to disengage from combat immediately and proceed with our primary mission after expelling all intruders and releasing all prisoners on board. Marking all subjects for transmat."

Alpha three turned to the soon to be former hostages. "A word of warning before you even think of crossing us again. As much as you're told your heart is your most important asset it can also be your very worst enemy. Always treat it like one."

Everyone who wasn't a rectifier was then teleported away.

Outside the rectifier base the battle came to a halt when the message came in.

"…Marking all subjects for transmat."

Alpha two looked at the capsule she had just taken from Sally. "You're lucky this is all we really wanted. If you're as smart as everyone says you are princess you and your Freedom Fighters will just stay out of our way, this doesn't concern your time."

"It doesn't matter what time it is," said Sally with a grunt. "We'll always stand between tyrants and the people."

As The Rectifiers began teleporting away Marine shot a blast of water at the data capsule knocking it out of Alpha two's hand.

"Bullseye!" Shouted Marine.

Sally dived after the device catching it before it hit the ground as the warriors from the future vanished and the rescue team and all the former prisoners appeared. The black mobile base began taking off.

"They still have the Chaos Emerald!" yelled Rouge.

"We'll have to chase them down after getting everyone aboard," said Sally. "Make sure to get all of Omega's parts. Bunnie contact the backup Team Dark had on standby, we'll need their help to capture that ship." Sally turned to the counselors. "Bring the kids into the Hanger, the other four are waiting you there."

"Doctor L here needs medical attention!" said Gold.

"Bring her to sickbay then, Fiona's waiting to tend to anybody seriously hurt."

As everyone began to quickly get on board Sonic came up to Sally. "I hate to say it, but I'm sure we wouldn't have made it if those kids hadn't all showed right when they did."

"Come on, lets show those future freaks just what the Sky Patrol is made of!"

On the bridge of the rectifier base alpha two lowered her head as they crossed over into the Great Forest. "I lost the capsule at the last second, if the regulators were working then…"

"The Sky Patrol is following the Mourning Star," said a rabbit rectifier. "Radar is also showing two large warships heading our way."

"We're being hailed," said a large bird rectifier. "Patching audio through now."

"This is G.U.N.S. Letter of Gabriel and G.U.N.S. Sword of Michael," Captain Tower said. "Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded or we'll be forced to open fire."

"Are you ok to give orders Alpha one?" asked Alpha two.

The hedgehog simply lowered his head. "Affirmative, the limbic regulator's working. Prepare twin cyclonic cannons, aim to graze both federation ships. That should send a clear message without risking the timeline."

"Compliance," said the rabbit. "Cyclonic cannons are charging, 60% power.

"What are they doing?" asked Antione.

Nicole shuddered. "If these readings are right, we have to warn the federation to steer clear or that weapon is going to vaporize them in a single shot!"

"Twin cyclonic cannons at 100% charge!" the rabbit said.

Alpha one pointed straight ahead. "Fire!"

On the bridge of the Sky Patrol everyone watched as the Mourning Star let loose a pair of giant purple laser blasts between the two carriers. The shot turned the sides white hot as the engines began to produce a few small explosions. The beam continued until it hit a distant mountaintop, a few seconds later the snowcapped peak was gone leaving only giant groove in the peak.

The two G.U.N. ships began to rapidly descend. "The Letter of Gabriel is in good shape to make an emergency landing," said Nicole. "But if the Sword of Michael stays on its current course it'll crash right on top of Feral Forest!"

"Get the harpoon cables ready!" yelled Sally. "We aren't going to let those humans get killed and DEFINITELY aren't going to let their ship crush Megan's hometown!"

"Got it!" said Tails. "I'm taking us into range!"

The Sky Patrol 2 flew in close and fired several cables onto the federation ship and began pulling it up enough to allow the ship to steer away from the village an into a safe landing.

"Thanks for the assist Sky Patrol," said a male voice over the radio. "You really saved our bacon back there.

"The Rectifier Base has vanished from radar," said Nicole. "We lost them and the Emerald."

Shadow growled. "Looks like everyone involved in this fiasco gets to live to fight another day."

On the Mourning Star a heavily built rectifier that had flipper like feet turned to Alpha one. "Tactical cloak engaged, engines on silent running. They won't be able to detect us now."

"We managed to secure the first emerald and powered the chaotic inverter," said Alpha Three. "Our primary missions today were a success. Overall, it is another victory."

"But we failed to retrieve the data capsule and for the first time in our existence, we let prisoners escape," said Alpha one. "A great deal of prisoners. Superior Prime is not going to be pleased when we report this."

Present day

"That's pretty much it," said Sonic.

"Feral Forest is helping rescue our people from those crashes," said Mr. Sharp. "It's a miracle nobody was killed."

"Look I know the thing with Doctor L wasn't planed but I try to save everybody I possibly can."

"What about that capsule everyone was after?" said Mr. Hammer.

"The Freedom Fighter brain trust is analyzing it now, but it's already proving to be more complicated than they expected. They say once Doctor L is well, they could use her help."

"And the Hostages?" asked Ms. Pierce.

"The Republic managed to secure a small building in Freedom city to use for them to stay in until their parents can be contacted. Silver and Gold seem to be handling that since they already built a rapport with the kids."

"So, are we done now?" asked Sonic.

Mr. Sharp gathered up his papers. "Thank you for your co-operation, we regret any inconvenience this may have brought you."

"What about Shadow and Rouge?"

"I have to see what my associates have determined in their debriefings before we can determine Team Dark's status. We'll let you know if that information is relevant to Freedom Fighter operations. Have a pleasant evening."

Sonic walked out of the room followed by Mr. Sharp. Sally, Tails, Rotor, Antione, Bunnie and Nicole were waiting for him.

"How did it go?" asked Tails.

"A lot of hot air leading to a whole lot of nothing," said Sonic.

Bunnie pointed behind him. "I wouldn't be so sure about that sugar-hog."

Shadow and Rouge left a couple of rooms followed by Mr. Hammer and Ms. Pierce. The two humans talked in hushed tones to Mr. Sharp for a bit before he turned to Shadow and Rouge.

"After a full evaluation we have determined that most of the errors in this assignment were either unavoidable or not due to your actions. HQ is going to keep an ear out if these rectifiers show up again."

"Glad that is settled," said Shadow. "Now we can get back to Guardian Mountain…"

"No can do, despite being cleared you two and Omega took a bit of a beating. The commander has given you a low-risk assignment to give you a chance to recuperate, here it is."

Mr. Sharp gave a manila envelope to Rouge who frowned on looking at the contents. "Are you kidding me?! This is babysitting, actual babysitting!"

"It should only be a few days at if that."

"Doesn't matter to me," said Shadow. "Keep an eye on the hostages we freed until their parents come for them. Since they already have a few adults looking after them we might not have to interact with the little imps."

"But my things are all the way back at HQ!" whined Rouge. "My gem collection, my makeup, my wardrobe…!"

"You can have them shipped, but I wouldn't bother since you probably won't be here that long. Farewell agents."

After the three humans left the Freedom Fighters came up. Sonic crossed his arms. "Well now that that's over I believe you owe me an apology."

Shadow sighed. "I supposed attacking you at your wedding reception in front of everyone was a bit much. But I needed to get you motivated to clear yourself."

"And you didn't think starting my life of wedded bliss wasn't motivation enough?"

"Alright you two," said Sally. "It's been a long day, the last thing I want to end it with is you getting into another brawl. It's bad enough I had to postpone our honeymoon."

"You don't 'ave to do that," said Antione. "Me and Bunnie's honeymoon was interrupted by the Battle Bird Armada, but we shouldered on afterward. Just because zhese rectifiers are causing problems…"

"It's because they're probably after Sonic," Sally began tearing up. "If we do this, we might let our guard down too much and if we don't it we'll be too worried to really enjoy it."

Sonic sighed. "Sal's right, it's just too dangerous right now, but this is just a delay, not a stop. Now that we have that capsule, we can find out how to save Silver's future for good."

"The sooner the better," said Knuckles as he came up with Julie-Su. "That little emergency back home I had to leave for? Three rectifiers, all echidna, were trying to get to the Master Emerald."

"At first some people were afraid that some former Dark Legion were falling back into bad habits," said Julie. "But the way they fought it was more like they had a Legionnaire whose cybernetics made him a walking arsenal, a Nocturnus with a lot of muscle and the way the last one fought I would swear she had guardian training."

"Particularly because she was able to siphon energy from the Emerald into some strange device," said Knuckles. "After that they just left, Lien-da, Finitivus, Shade and Argo came with us to share their findings with the Acorn Army in case they show up again."

Sonic clenched his fist. "I think we met them after they left you guys, if they're using your most sacred treasure as a charging station it can't be for anything good."

"There's just one last thing the team's going to do before we call it mission accomplished," said Sally. "I think we should spend a few minutes with those kids, let them know we're looking for their parents and find out how to contact them. We're going to ask everyone that got involved in this adventure if they could help out while Silver, Gold and Blaze visit Doctor L in the hospital. Many hands make light work after all."

"Not a problem," said Knuckles. "I'm sure we can all spend a few minutes before reporting in and heading back home."

"Rouge and I may as well go with you to set up our little watch post," said Shadow.

"And Sonic," Sally said turning to her new husband. "I had the hotel send the champagne and rose petals over to our new apartment. It might not be the honeymoon suite, but we can still have a wedding night."

Sonic smiled. "As long you're in the room, I'll say it's sweet."

Sally blushed.

Doctor L sat back in the hospital bed. "The MD said I'll be discharged in a few days with good behavior. But when have you ever known me to behave?"

"Still the same grumpy old lady we all remember," Gold laughed.

"And don't you forget it. Listen I still think what you did was insanely reckless, but thanks for saving my life."

Silver looked down dejected. "If only we could have done the same for everyone else. Von Schlemmer, Red Knight, Edmund…"

"You are, by changing history back to whatever it was before The Interloper messed things up to begin with," Doctor L turned to Blaze. "So, you all finally met your parents?"

"Yes, and while they started to heal from what Mammoth did, they still lost the chance to raise us."

"The way I see it Mammoth was doing them a favor," L shot an annoyed glare in their direction. "Especially when your powers first awakened."

"You're still mad about that?" said Silver. "We were toddlers, we didn't know any better!"

"He and Edmund went to look for clues in some dusty old archive and thought me and Schlemmer's lab was the closest thing we had to a daycare.," L looked at Silver. "Then you started levitating our equipment straight into your mouth to teeth on," she turned to Gold. "You kept telepathically asking me for a 'gookie' every twenty seconds," finally she settled on Blaze. "And you kept making 'pwetty' flames right next to some highly combustible chemicals! I wanted to turn your play pen upside down, put you all under it and set a few heavy weights on top. Good thing for you Von Schlemmer was a smart enough overlander to let you play with his helper bit robots so we could get SOME work done. Can't wait to meet your folks so I can tell them this little story."

The three turned beat red. "Come on Doc," said Blaze. "Have a heart."

"What? I thought you'd like them to have a laugh out of your early antics. Maybe prepare them a little for when your little brother and sisters are born. Come to think of it once you have your kids you'll probably go through the same thing."

"Speaking of which I better check in on them," said Gold as closed her eyes and her mark glowed. "Then tomorrow we start looking for a Chaos…" She suddenly opened her eyes. "The Babylon Rouges are in Freedom City! Them, the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix are all heading straight to the shelter we set up for the kids!"

"All at once?!" said Silver. "With that many there's a big chance someone's going to learn something they aren't supposed to yet!"

"Then what are you all doing gabbing with a crusty old cuss like me for?!" said Doctor L. "Get going and stop them!"

The three ran out the door quickly.

"You better not be trying to steal anything here," Sally said to the Babylon Rouges.

"Solving a little mystery actually," said Wave as she got out a pocket watch sized device. "I gave each of us a unique tracking device so we can keep tabs on each other during a race or…other activities. Thing is I made four of the trackers but I'm picking up six of them and the other two are in that building."

"Hey, we all going to brighten the day of the kids in there after they had a bad time," said Sonic. "You may as well come with us."

In the shelter the kids were all starting to settle in.

"Gotta admit they did a great job getting all this up on such short notice," said Dusk. "They even managed a foosball table."

"Right now, all I care about is the clean sheets and indoor plumbing!" said Flare. "No more smelly outhouses or checking my bed for insects before tucking in at night!"

"Yeah, well don't get too comfortable," said Gleam. "We should be trying to find a way home."

"Well, I'm just happy that the reason our parents sent to camp wasn't because they thought something dangerous was going to happen," said Sonia. "I mean it did, but they were just trying to fix what that snotpill Synaptix had broken between us."

"Forget about that pixel brain," said Manik. "Once Mr. Silver gets a Chaos Emerald he can send us home, I mean we got the capsule to the Freedom Fighters, so mission accomplished right?"

"I don't think it's that simple Manik," said Lara. "I doubt I'd have gotten those memories just to drop off a message. We might have more work to do here or back in our own time before this is over. But now I'm convinced that whatever I need to do, that special connection we all had when were little is a big part of it." The kids all gathered around as the counselors watched from the wings. "I can't do this without all of you."

"No sweat," Manik turned to the group. "We're the Future Freedom Fighters now and we're going to save the world!"

"Yeah!" the kids all shouted while pumping a fist into the air.

"We're going to master our abilities and be unstoppable!" said Gleam.

"Yeah!"

"We'll find out what's going to happen to our future and stop whatever bad guy comes our way!" said Sonia.

"Yeah!"

"And we're all going to get home without the Freedom Fighters, Chaotix or Babylon Rouges of this time finding out they're going to be our parents!" said Lara.

"Yeah!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

Kids turned around to see Sonic and the others had just come in. Everyone stared wide eyed, their gaze being drawn to the future parent or child.

"Crash and burn," Lara softly groaned.

"Kids," Silver said as he Gold and Blaze came in. "Your parents are…it's already too late, isn't it?"

"I might need an extra-large bottle of aspirin from all the memories I'm going to have to suppress," muttered Gold.

"Uh…" Sonia and Manik put on their biggest 'I didn't do it' grins as they spoke to Sonic and Sally together. "Happy late zeroth anniversary Mom and Dad?"

Sally's eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she promptly fainted.