Chapter 2: Sirens in the distance

Tails had been rummaging through the warehouse districts storage units for hours. Pulling old moldy boxes down and pouring through them. He was looking for old power supplies and voltage converters. As he was digging his ears perked, he looked up. The whir of small hover engines buzzed in the distance, he stopped his rummaging and held his breath. Skidding around the corner he relaxed when he saw it was just his Eye-Spy drone. He went back to digging. "Grady I've told you please don't just zip around like that. You sound like any other eye spy, we got radios so use them." He grumbled.

The turquoise painted eye spy slammed to a halt in front of him. "Boss! you won't believe this! Oh and I didn't use the radio because I'm currently using the radio. I mean I heard someone else on the radio!"

Tails smiled and continued to dig in his pile. "Don't hurt yourself, what did you hear on the radio Grady? Is Sally trying to call me back to Knothole? I think I may have enough power regulators in my bag for tonight." He looked up to the little drone. The eye spy had been an ongoing project ever since he broke into Robotnik's AI mainframe, he wanted his own Nicole. Grady had been the biggest thing he had been able to download before his connection was severed. A lot of strange data on that server, seemed to be from some old applied science company. "Did your scanners pick up any more copper masses in any of these units?" He stretched and yawned.

The little drone shook no, "Boss you're not listening! It wasn't a call from home, someone got hurt! I think..." the drone wavered. "There's a audio signal coming through that's just really strange! It's like someones just stuck on transmitting! I've heard screaming and explosions! Now that I think about it, real intense situation." Grady whirred circling him. "There also seems to be a arbitrary analog data stream but I can't make more then that."

Tails got up from the scrap metals and plastics. "Wait someone's in trouble?" He grabbed for his messenger bag. "Grady you start the conversation with that, I don't need to know all the little details before. If someone's in trouble near by we have to see if we can help." He smirked. "Besides this may be our ticket off salvage duty tonight." He started packing his bag. "Sally never lets me do any real missions." He muttered as he dug out a com cable. Grabbing Grady out of the air he turning him over and plugged it into the drone's maintenance port. Plugging the other end into his data watch he let the drone go to have it hover above him. "Pipe both signals to my watch."

"Sure thing, we heading back after this boss? I need to recharge my cells soon." Grady said hovering low.

Tails played the first signal through his data watch. The sound of panting came through then some grunting and the sound of a metal fence clanking. "It was weird man" Grady piped in, "I heard an old mark II swatbot then some screaming and explosions. Those things are so stupid. Can you believe I share the same template? Glad there's better processors the doctors making now." The robot chirped.

Tails rolled his eyes as he was typing away at his wrist computer. "Don't sound too grateful to him, remember he's the enemy."

The eye spy's front flaps flexed "Hey man, I get it. I'm just glad I don't sound like old roboto man version 2 and I don't need a management rail."

Tails frowned as he started examining the second analog data stream. "What's a management rail? Is that information from your template?" He sat down cross legged as he examined the graph looking for patterns.

The eye spy landed next to him, "I think so, they ran all over the labs, salt mine caves that went on for miles! I don't think they are here, It must be from whatever place Dr. Robotnik came from. Oh there's more noise, sounds like they are running now."

"Hmm, I always wondered about the place he came from or why he came to begin with." Tails mumbled. "I think this may be a video signal..." He perked up. "That would make sense to be paired with continuous audio." He went to work. "Ok looks like 25 bursts of data per second, maybe frames? And inside each of those it looks like 625 sub bursts, maybe a line of pixels? aaaaand that's it! Perfect!" He grinned, A black and white choppy video stream appeared on his watch screen. The video seemed to be jostling showing images of the industrial district he was in. From it looked like the device recording might be a necklace?

Tails face got serious. "Let me save this info. Hey Grady open a channel to Uncle Chuck."

The little drone clicked, "Sure thing, closing current radio session, calling Sir Charles Hedgehog.

The sound of ringing filled the storage unit. "Come on Uncle Chuck, pickup." Tails said under his breath.

*BLURP* "Robotropolis freedom fighter outpost reading you loud and clear." The older Mobian's voice came over the radio line. A familiar robotic Mobian snapped into view on his watch. Grady's camera eye lit up as he focused in on Miles. The older Robian's face lit up. "Tail's I haven't heard from you in ages! how's it been sunny!"

Tails smiled as he faced down the camera. "Been good Uncle Chuck. We can catch up later though, I have something for you. Preparing data packet." He stated navigating through menus on his watch. "You may have noticed a new signal, forwarding info on unencrypted audio and video stream." He pressed the confirm send. "Packet sent along with my current location and signal strength to it. Can you use your radio array to triangulate it?" He switched his watch to the way-point map as the video feed cut out and the audio continued from Grady's speaker.

Tails heard the old Robian give a hearty chuckle. "Your one step ahead of me I guess, Yea I noticed the signal but... Ok you already figured it out...Why would someone be transmitting an audio video feed through Robotropolis?" Tails heard the sound of an old mechanical keyboard clacking away. "You're the only Mobian we have stationed out there... Who could that be I wonder?" Chuck continued.

There was the sound of continued typing in the background as Tails waited. "Uncle Chuck please forward me the tracking info, Grady heard screams in the feed earlier. I plan on intercepting before Robotnik can catch them."

The typing stopped. "Huh? Oh right! here you go!"

Tails watched the info show up on his watch. "Thanks Uncle Chuck!" He grinned.

The older Robian's voice continued over the radio. "I can stream this to your watch for a bit without Grady's communications array but you better hurry... Is Sally okay with you doing this?" He asked.

Tails detached the communication wire from Grady. He got up putting the cable back in his messenger bag. "No, she still being Aunt Sallly… but per protocol Mobian life comes first. We can't risk anymore of us lost to the roboticizer. I'm within protocol to try and help a refugee." He looked into Grady's camera. "By the way, put a marker here. I have a pickup ready for power converters in this building."

"I'll try and talk to her again, we need all the help we can get. How old are you now?" Chuck asked.

Tails started towards the stairwell at the end of the hall. "Almost 18 cycles, probably closer to 19 cycles since we don't know my exact date of birth." He replied starting up the stairs. "There's evidence that the potential refugee may have been being chased by a mark II swatbot."

"Be careful Miles, they may be old but their light cannons still punch into flesh." He replied. "I'll send a report to Sally and give me a ring if anything comes up."

Tails made it to the top of the building into the evening air. "I wish you would hold off on that." He directed towards Grady's mic as the drone followed behind him."

"You know I can't do that. stay safe son and don't take any unnecessary risks. Over and out." *CLICK*

Tails sighed, his skin was starting to itch from the outside air. The chemical humidity was breaking into a light drizzle. "Should have brought my mask." He muttered his nose wrinkling from the bitter scent in the air. "Need to get out of this zone before the rain starts to strip flesh." He looked towards the heart of the city and froze, he could see a hoard of drones with search lights exiting Robotnik's command center. "Uh oh..." He mouthed.

Grady came up next to him. "Uh oh... Man, I'm picking up a mess of activity, looks like Robotnik's raised the alarm, actually it looks like Snivly is heading this search. There's going to be groups of swatbot mark III in the area soon."

Tails looked down to his watch tracking the target. "We got to get them to shut off their transponder, we will probably have to escape through the waterworks. He made his way to the fire edge of the roof where their target was about to cross by and slid down a drainage pipe.

Alyx had been running through this grid of warehouses and storage units for a few minutes. The rain had been increasing and making her skin itch more and more. She was getting exhausted and needed to get some place safe. The ringing in her ears had dulled to a low hum and the burn on her leg was now a dull raw throb. On the building on her right she noticed movement on top of the roof. "A soldier dropping?" She thought as she took cover behind a nearby barrier. Readying her pistol she winced getting preparing for the sharp sound.

"Hey lady! how ya doin! My name's Grady!" Alyx looked up shocked, there was a little drone above her. She dove to the side behind a concrete barrier and raised her her weapon. "AHH a gun! Tails help!" It zipped away.

She heard a crash and she took a look over the barrier she was hiding behind. There was a figure splayed in some boxes that jumped to its feet. She leveled the gun at them and a male voice cut in. "Wait! I need to speak to you!" he raised his arms and moved into the dim light. "I apologize for my Drone, He doesn't seem to listen well-"

"Oh I'm sorry, I'm just trying to be friendly." It quipped back.

Tails hesitantly stepped forward shooting a disapproving look towards the drone, "We don't have time for that Grady just keep an eye out for bots!" He looked at the young Mobian in front of him, "We don't have much time but whatever that signal is you have to turn it off now. They are coming and we need to leave now!" He said lowering his hands and gestured for her to follow him. "My name is Miles Prower but you can call me Tails. Please lower the weapon and come with me."

Sirens started in the distance catching both of their attention. Shocked she looked him over, he seemed to be the same humanoid race that she was now. lowering the gun she holstered it. Sighing she made up her mind. "Thanks." She said a tired smile crossing her face, "My name is Alyx Vance."

"Nice to meet you Ms. Vance but we need to go now, you've been transmitting a signal from something," He noticed the headset around her neck. "I'm guessing that thing around your neck, we need to stop it before Robotnik's forces zero in on it."

She looked down to her radio pulling it from around her neck, "He can track this?" She asked.

"I was able to track it." He replied.

She examined the mechanism and found a transmit button that had been taped down. Removing the tape and the button depressed. "Ok I think I stopped it."

He grabbed her hand and started dragging her away, "I'm sorry but we need to leave now, you may have noticed too but the rain is getting more acidic. We need to get out of this zone before it starts to eat through our cloths." He began to jog pulling her along, "Grady give us some low light, enough to see but not enough to stand out at this time of night.

"You got it dude!" Grady said as he started shining a dim amber light in front of them.

Going with the flow she threw the headset back on she just nodded along following the Mobian. She was so exhausted she decided he must be with the local resistance and let him lead. Taking a moment to look at her guide, he was a fox like Mobian with orange fur with white accents. He looked similar to her but with the abnormality of what looked to be two tails swishing behind him as he jogged. He was wearing a tattered hoodie with work pants and sturdy hiking boots. Over his shoulder he had an old military poncho being worn almost like a cape. The acidic bitter smell started to lessen the further they got from the train graveyard. He slowed down to peer around a corner of the next warehouse. "Hey" she whispered, "I appreciate you guiding me but please let go of my hand, I don't want you gripping to hard."

He looked back at her questioningly, "I'm sorry I didn't think I was gripping that hard." He said as he let go.

Flexing her hand she pointed it at a nearby bottle on the ground, flicking it back the bottle flew to her hand. "Sorry, a friend entrusted something valuable to me. I need to make sure they still work."

Tails eyes bugged out, looking at her hands. "Did that device just pull an object to you?!" He shout whispered. The sirens got louder. "Never, we need to leave." Glancing around the corner he turned back to her, "Give me that glass bottle and get down as flat as you can in the shadow here, Grady turn off the light!" He hissed. She nodded giving him the bottle and got prone on the ground. They were at an intersection between 4 buildings. he aimed the glass bottle down the left road and hucked it turning towards her and flaring the poncho behind him pulling his tails forward. Grady zoomed to his hands and powered down. "Stay quiet and try and be as small as you can, My cloak should block their sensors." He said dipping his head.

*CRACK*

The sound of broken glass echoed down the alleyway. Alyx rested her cheek on the ground slowing her breathing. Her tail was starting to get soar as she held it to her side.

*CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK*

Heavy metallic footfalls ran down the street stopping at the intersection.

"WHAT WAS THAT?" A synthesized voice droned.

"SITE SCAN." *CLICK* A second bot piped in.

Alyx saw a blue laser grid sweep over them, She held still and looked at the young Mobians face with her. He looked like a nervous wreck but he was smiling at her. He began mouthing. "Trust me they will pass." Over and over again. She slowly nodded, it almost seemed like he was trying to convince himself more then her.

"NOTHING ON SCAN, JUST SOME TRASH BAGS SOUTH TOWARDS THE SALVAGE YARD, DETECTED SOUND INDICATES ACTIVITY DUE WEST." The second voice droned.

They heard a whirring and a nasally voice interrupted. "Have you found anything?"

"NOTHING CONCRETE SIR." The first swatbot replied. "AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THERE WAS A NOISE DUE WEST-"

"Go find the source of that signal!" The organic voice shrilled, "It's not every day a PAL video signal just shows up all willy nilly, so much ambient radiation in the zone it cant be a coincidence..." The drone shot up looking back towards the robots, "Who ever they are I want them alive! Dr. Robotnik will want to question them himself, where on Mobius they got a transmitter like that..."

The clink of footsteps faded west. there was a moment of silence.

Tails got an odd look on his face, but quashed it. "Come on we're almost out of the this." He got up offering her a hand.

Alyx waved it off getting to her feet on her own. "Where next" she breathed wiping the mud off her jeans.

"Just passed here there's a entrance to the waterways." He replied. They darted north and next to the fire escape of the nearby building there was a manhole. Miles pulled what looked like a mini crowbar from his messenger bag. Inserting the tool he lifted the edge pulling the cover aside revealing pitch darkness.

"Uhh." Alyx wavered. "There's no brain sucking parasites down there right?"

He got a weird look on his face. "What?"

She flushed. "Never mind!" Climbing down she grasped for her flashlight only for the battery to give out. "Arg... Why did my light have to go out now..." She said gritting her teeth as she continued down the manhole.

A whir followed her as the little drone joined beside her. "Ugh I hate when that happens, I have just enough juice to light the way though." She heard a click and the bottom was illuminated in a soft amber light.

The stress left her shoulders. "Thanks..." She backed up away from the ladder. "I... I don't care for the dark."

They heard the scraping of the manhole closing above. "Well there's a lot of dark here in Robotropolis I'm afraid." Tails said as he closed the manhole. Looking down he made his way to join them.

Alyx stood back from the ladder, her adrenaline starting to come down. The dull throb in her leg starting to make itself known. Taking a deep breath she steeled herself, she wasn't a little girl anymore. They had a light and it sounded like there weren't any creatures like headcrabs down here.

"You ok?" Tails asked?

She nodded. "Yea sorry, its been a really long day and I'll be honest, I do not like the dark at all."

Grady chirped in. "That's alright Ms. Alyx, Sir over there is terrified of lightning."

Tails flushed an indignant look on his face. "Used to be! still don't like it but used to be!" He batted the drone. "Don't go telling people things about me without my permission!" He said flustered. He nervously looked back at her. "We got to get moving. Ehem. Grady bring up a map of the underground and project a waypoint path to the metropolitan safehouse."

Grady projected a map in front of him, a maze of tubes with a line being drawn and dots representing them. "Sorry, touchy subject." The drone quipped.

"Sorry." Tails directed towards Alyx.

"Huh?" She questioned.

"The Lightning thing." He moved past her leading her down the tunnel. "Its ok for you to know that, I just don't like talking about it. I don't want to freak out about that sort of stuff."

"Could of fooled me." Grady mumbled.

Tails pointed at the drone. "Not helping!" He looked at her in the low light, "I don't like the loud noise. There, you know something about me."

She followed behind a silence forming between them. She broke it. "Where I grew up there's animals that can really harm you that like dark damp places."

"Like brain sucking parasites?" He asked his eyebrow raised.

She walk stiffened, "I... Grew up in a rough area." She answered.

He stared at her. "Right..." He looked forward. "Ok so lets get someplace safe. Not that down here isn't too bad but with all that acid rain runoff we don't want to stay in here too long." He looked at Grady, "Hey Grady how much power you got left?"

"15 I mean 14 percent." The little drone answered.

Tails nodded. "Right, we better hurry then."

Tail's glanced to Alyx, "Come on!" He grinned. "It shouldn't take too long.

She nervously grinned back. "Right!" and they set off.

Chapter 2 end

Authors notes: A long time has happened since SatAM ended. and in a similar sense it has been a long time since half life 2 episode 2 ended. The release of Half-Life Alyx got me thinking and this crossover was born. It's been quite a few years since Robotnik took over in this, about 15 or 18 years. I like to think that the coup happened and the original series of SatAM took place 5 years after. in this story some of the magic elements are going to be missing or changed. The wizards will most likely not be making an appearance. If you haven't picked up on it this is an exercise of how the characters would be grown up a bit. This is also a bit of crack taken seriously along with trying for a more grounded reality version of Sonic SatAM. Tail's cant fly, he just has a mutation. still thinking on how to work in Sonic's speed. Maybe a sense almost like bullet time reflexes and just natural better speed in those reflexes. We will see. Hope anyone who found this and is reading enjoyed.

Authors notes 2: I went back and did some more editing on chapter 1. let me know if you find anything wrong. I need more practicing editing but have a bad habit of re writing the same thing over and over again trying to make it perfect. i'm forcing to get it to "its good enough" and posting it.