Chapter 3

Democracy at its Finest.

As Silver, Kai, Claw, and I meet up with the rest of Wolf Squad where an ambulance was waiting, we noticed a large brown shuttle approach the bridge. We all knew that that shuttle belonged to the High Council.

"Well as the old saying goes," Silver said, "'time to face the music.'"

"Time for me to face the music." I turned to him and said. "Your going in that ambulance, and heading straight back to base."

"General, you should know by now, no matter how hard you try, I'm never going to abandon you."

"I SHIP IT!" I heard Beta shout. I then heard laughter and wolf whistles from the squad. We both got really flustered.

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT BETA!" Silver shouted

"Well, al least I won't have to get all the blame." I said.

"Amen to that, brother." He said, and not a moment too soon, the shuttle touched ground about ten feet in front of us. The shuttle ramp then opened and out came the entire High Council. Espio came out first, followed by Vector, Charmy, Rouge, Sonic, Shadow, Amy, and my old captain, Angus Fang.

"Alpha the Wolf," Espio said with a stern look. "You're a dead man."

"Councilman Espio, members of the High Council," I smirked. "How nice of you to join us in the pits of Hell."

"Save your sarcasm Alpha, it won't save you." He said.

"It was no sarcasm. I'm actually flattered that you all got out of your comfy offices and war rooms just to see me." Espio then stomped towards me so close that our noses almost touched. I could tell that there was fire in his eyes.

"One more word out of you, and I see to it that you get a black eye to go with your court martial." There was silence for a moment, I then broke out in laughter and collapsed. I probably laughed for a whole minute until I got up and got a hold of myself.

"Are you finished Alpha?" Espio asked.

"Yes." I replied wiping my eyes.

"Now tell me what was so funny" He asked angrier than before.

"You want to know? What was funny was how you threatened me like giving me a black was the worst thing that would ever happen to me."

"Come again?"

"Why do you think that anyone who has fought in the war as long as I have wouldn't be afraid of a black eye?"

Espio crossed his arms together. "Why?"

"Because, when your fighting in a battle, A BLACK EYE IS THE LAST THING THAT WOULD BE ON A SOLDIERS MIND! NOT WHEN THEY'RE BEING SHOT AT BY HUNDREDS OF EGG PAWNS AND GETTING BOMBED BY EAGLE FIGHTERS!"

"Those soldiers are soldiers! You are a general, and as General of the Resistance, you need to stay alive and, in your office, and lead your men."

"Like you and Knuckles?" Espio froze. He then looked at me with a very dark look.

"What did you just say to me?"

"You heard me." I said. He then whistled loudly. Charmy then tossed him his katana, which he then pointed at my throat. "Take, that, back, now!" Pretending like nothing happened, I then turned towards Wolf Squadron. "Wolf Squad! What's your credo!"

"Fight as a pack! Win as a pack! No wolf left behind!" They all shouted.

"I can't hear you!" I shouted

"FIGHT AS A PACK! WIN AS A PACK! NO WOLF LEFT BEHIND!" They shouted even louder. I then turned back to Espio.

"You heard them. 'No wolf left behind.'" I said. "That has been a belief that I have followed ever since I started fighting this war, until you and your High Council, pulled me away from that and forced me to lead the Resistance like a chess player. Well Espio, like it or not, from now on, I'm going to lead my men into battle in person like a true leader." I then paused. "Every single soldier in this resistance are sacrificing everything. There homes, there families, the embrace of their loved ones, just for the promise of a future for there children, and their children's children. That is why, it is my pleasure, and my duty, to fight along side my men. And if your bureaucratic posy has a problem with that, screw you." There was absolute silence for a second, but Espio then lowered his katana.

"You know, after the war, you could've been a public speaker." He said. "Unfortunately, you won't get that opportunity. Captain Beta, arrest him at once." I then turned to Beta. She didn't move a muscle. "THAT'S AN ORDER CAPTAIN."

"Never." She said, and dropped her laser wispon on the ground. "If it wasn't for him, all of my men would be dead, and this battle would have been lost."

"If it wasn't for him, I'd would have been dead." Silver said.

"Silver, I didn't save you, Gizmo did." I said.

"But you were able to get my first aid, and bring it back faster then any of us could."

"And you can be sure that I will not arrest the man who saved my squad." Beta said. "RIGHT BOYS!"

"SIR! YES SIR!" The squad shouted. I then saw Espio just stand there, silent.

"Look Espio." Fang said. "I see no reason why he can fight. He's saved the Resistance more times then I can count, plus having him lead in battle could raise the moral of the troops." Espio still didn't move for another minute.

"Members of the High Council, all in favor." He said.

"Aye." The High Council said.

"I would say nay, but it wouldn't mean anything. I hereby pardon General Alpha, and Commander Silver of all charges." The entire squad then jumped with joy. Beta then leapt towards me and kissed me on the cheek.

"I should thank you. This entire event has showed me that you are most defiantly the right person to lead our men."

"Thank you, Councilman. No hard feelings?" I said. He nodded.

"Let's head home." He said.

"Boys," I turned to the paramedics. "See to it that Silver get's the care that he needs."

"You got it sir." He said.

"Thanks Silver." I said.

"Anytime. This makes us even for now." He replied.

"You boys are so cute." Beta said. I flinched with shock.

"BETA COME ON!" I shouted. She started laughing.

"It never gets old." She laughed.