The forest was growing thicker and darker. The blue hedgehog and two-tailed fox pressed on, through pits and rock outcroppings and root formations.
"Nothing about Grampa Chuck…or any of the others," Tails said. He had been working on the database the best he could while he walked. He'd ridden on Sonic's shoulders a bit when he'd needed to gain access to the database, but now all he had to do was read.
"Just…just a programming repeat of the instructions Robotnik said online..." Tails nearly tripped and staggered forward. His chest heaved, as if he couldn't get enough air. "There are a couple other details, but nothing…nothing big…"
Tails blinked down at the ground, his blue eyes hazy and feverish. He swallowed.
"What kind of details?" Sonic asked.
"…Um…" Tails closed his eyes. "…um…specific criteria for deciding who to extract in different…ranges."
Sonic's ears flicked back and he slowed.
"Age ranges, I mean." Tails added. His voice was soft.
"…Like what?"
"Uh…Mobium measures mostly…if it's…if the Mobian is weak or doesn't produce…enough…"
Sonic turned around, his eyes narrowed at the fox.
"—they go on and extract…" Tails continued. "Unless rank…or intellect…or a list of variables…" Tails' voice trailed off. His legs buckled.
Tails hit the ground.
Sonic dove at his side. "Tails—Tails, what's wrong?"
The fox curled up on the dirt, let out a shuddering sigh. He gripped his elbow just below his burn and sucked in another breath, trembling. Sweat soaked his fur.
Sonic crouched over the fox, trying to get a look at his face. "You've gotta get up, man. Talk to me-c'mon, Tails…Tails?"
The fox winced in response. Sonic's words sounded blurred and distant. Tails' pupils dilated and contracted as he tried to focus on the database, laying on the ground nearby. He stretched out his hand to pick it up and missed.
"Uhrmgh," Tails growled and pounded his fist against the ground. He sighed, shivering.
"Tails?" Sonic spoke louder, harsher. "Tails—you talk to me right now—what's happening to you?"
"I'm sorry, Sonic!" Tails half mumbled, half shouted. "I'm sick! Please, go!"
"Whaddya mean, you're—" Sonic started, but he stopped. He ran a hand through his head spikes, swallowing. "Shut up. We never give up—you can do this—we've got to keep moving—I have to find rings—we have to get to Robotropolis—we have to get Robotnik—you've gotta get up right now an'—"
"I can't, Sonic—" Tails gritted his teeth. "I…I know I give up too easily…but even if I was fine, I'd still slow you down. I—" Tails was trying not to cry.
Sonic's eyes widened. For the first time, Sonic realized just how much everything that had happened in the last week had deeply affected Tails. Not only was Tails grieving and scared and hurt, but he was still recovering from being Eggman's prisoner, taking a blast close range to his back, fighting in Aero, and carrying Sonic to the Underground.
He'd forgotten all that already.
Tails closed his eyes against the dirt, breathing out. Everything that had happened the last few days had slowly been ripping him down layer by layer. This last injury was the final straw.
"You've always taken care of me, Sonic," Tails gasped out. "But you can't choose me over the planet this time…" His blue eyes flashed at Sonic. "Y-you are the Ringweilder of Mobia—you didn't ask for that—it's bigger than you, it's bigger than me, and you are going to have to fight harder than you've ever fought before and…and I can't move," Tails' teeth began to chatter.
"Tails-" Sonic tried.
"You need a real sidekick." Tails forced out. "Not a mutate screw up... Please, leave, and go fight." He curled his tails around himself and pressed the side of his face against the ground. "I'll—I'll be okay here," he lied.
Tails shivered. Sonic lied all the time about being okay. He could do it too.
Sonic's eyes had turned hard. He took a shaky breath, still crouched over the fox.
Then he stood up. "You—you're gonna be okay, Tails."
Sonic spun around and ran. He ran hard.
Tails' ears pricked up, listing to the boom crack in Sonic's wake. He did not move.
Over the next minutes, the silence and cold pressed in. Still the fox did not move. He lay with his eyes closed, the fever raging through his body and mind.
