The Fastest Thing Alive. That's what they'd called him.

Sonic had an ego, and he'd happily adopted the moniker that had been coined by a Red Gate tabloid. Sonic the Hedgehog, Fastest Thing Alive, foils maniacal menace! What could he say? It was true. Sonic had powers that broke the laws of physics, speed capable of breaking the sound barrier, athletic manoeuvres beyond most living creatures' capabilities and a sharp wit to boot. The Fastest Thing Alive, Hero of Mobius, Sonic the Hedgehog, the bane of Robotnik forces for years ever since the malicious and ambitious human had threatened the world with his plans.

And it was gone.

All gone. Like the tap of a button on a console.

Now, Sonic the Hedgehog's greatest battle... was putting one foot in front of the other.

"That's it, Mister Sonic! You're doing very well!"

Sonic didn't respond to the young rabbit-mobian to his left, even though he'd known her and her family for years. His focus was entirely on the feet and the floor beneath him. The hands of Sonic's life-support frame tightly gripped the handrails to either side of him, Sonic unable to feel the metal in the palms or the ground beneath the suit's feet.

He didn't feel much. Only a vague sense of his own space, and the operation of the organs packed into the frame. All that was left of him.

"You're doing great sir," one of the other med-techs piped up, observing his progress from the other end of the short path he was attempting to navigate, "just keep it slow."

"One foot in front of the other, Mister Sonic..." med-tech cadet Cream, one of the youngest of the HQ's medical staff, smiled encouragingly beside him. "You're almost halfway there!"

Halfway. Across a ten foot room. Incredible.

Sonic remained silent however, declining to even acknowledge Cream. He just concentrated, the left foot rising shakily... and set it down, just in front of the other. There were words of encouragement from the medical staff around him. Sonic ignored them.

He didn't care. He didn't even know why he was bothering with this. But he pressed on, forcing himself to concentrate as he readied himself for another step.

The door to the room slid open, and a white-coated individual entered.

"Hello people. Hello, Sonic!" Sonic's eyes scanned right, focusing on the orange-brown fox who approached him. Tails adjusted his glasses as he reached the apparatus and smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Mister Sonic's doing great! Right, Sonic?" Cream replied for him, unbearably positive. The young rabbit didn't mean to sound condescending, it was merely in her nature. But Sonic didn't appreciate it one bit. His eyes remained locked on Tails, who nodded and smiled at him.

"That's good! That's good," the twin-tailed fox pushed his glasses up his snout and raised his datapad. "Sonic? If you're feeling up to it, after this I'd like to make a quick examination. Nothing major, I'd just like to make sure your internal systems are-"

That had done it. Sonic, already fighting to remain upright, lost his focus. One foot jerked out from under him, the hands clumsily snatched at nothing, and he would have collapsed to the floor had it not been for the support cables attaching him to a track on the ceiling. Instead, Sonic merely dangled there, like a puppet with its strings cut, the hiss of mechanical limbs awkwardly flailing.

The commotion in the room was instant. The med-techs scrambled to stabilise their patient, panicked voices snapped orders, systems were analysed and safety measures were followed, and soon enough Sonic found himself guided back to his chair. Where he sat. Silent, and waiting, while the medics talked over him and Tails demanded reports.

Sonic just let them, staring into the feet of the suit. He didn't care.

He just. Didn't. Care.

...

Tails was becoming concerned.

Sonic had remained almost silent ever since his fall an hour ago. He'd remained silent as they'd returned him to his chair. He'd remained silent as Tails had explained to him that they were heading to the examination room to perform their tests. Tails had become worried that the vocal systems of his elder brother's life-support frame had ceased functioning, but those concerns had been nullified when Tails ran vocal tests and Sonic had obediently complied. Then he'd returned to his silence, from then until Tails finally wheeled his brother through the door to his quarters.

"There we are..." the teenage fox manoeuvred Sonic's unwieldy chair into position, near the far corner, where Sonic could turn it to view the wall-mounted screen or into the room's space. The quarters weren't much. Technically they were reserved for Resistance officers, but Sonic's had been equipped for functionality over anything else. All furniture was arranged close to the walls, allowing an open space where the hedgehog's life-support frame could be maintained without need of moving him if necessary, while spaces for clothing and bedding were just not necessary. There were framed photographs on the shelves, snaps of the brothers' lives through the years. Tails had set those up himself, hoping they would give his revived brother some comfort.

"All set..." Tails said, stepping back as he finished arranging Sonic's chair. His hands slid into his lab coat pockets, the sixteen year-old's muzzle tweaking in a smile. "I'm sorry for the commotion, Sonic. You had us worried there for a little while..."

Sonic remained silent. The green optics briefly regarded Tails, before tracking away and toward the wall.

Tails again realised how silent his brother was.

"It's a nice day out!" Tails said, forcing a cheer into his tone as he crossed the room to inspect a photograph. He lifted the picture and smiled. He was eight years old here, beaming with joy while Sonic wrapped his arm around him. A gift-wrapped chilidog was held in one of the hedgehog's hands. It was his fifteenth birthday. Life had been so much simpler then, even with Robotnik around. He set the picture down and turned back to his brother. Sonic remained exactly as he was, staring at the same point on the wall. "We'll have to go one day, right? Head out and see Green Hills again? It shouldn't be too long before you're able to make a trip like that..."

Sonic didn't reply. Didn't move. Just sat there, the steady pump and hiss of his breathing apparatus the only sound filling the room.

"You did great today, Sonic!" Tails tried, forcing a grin and approaching his brother with the intent of checking the chair's monitors again, "really great! I know we had that little hiccup, but I'm... I'm sure you'll get used to it!"

Tails wasn't just concerned now. He was actively becoming scared.

"Sonic..." tails kneeled down so he wasn't standing over his brother, his ears drooping as he looking into the green optics. "Sonic, please talk to me."

Sonic remained still and silent for a small moment, before his response finally came. "Why did you do this, Tails."

Tails went still as the green eyes scanned to his, the faceless mask of Sonic's head slowly turning to face him with the quiet whirr of mechanics. Tails couldn't help as his fur raised, the unsettling glare of those green optics so much like those of a Robotnik Metal Unit.

"I..." Tails' words caught in his throat. He coughed, clearing his throat and attempting to settle his nerves. "We... didn't have a choice, Sonic..." the fox replied, shaking his head incredulously as he explained to the rebuilt hedgehog, "we had to do something! We could have kept you alive on life support, but... you would never've... you'd..." Tails ran a hand back through his head fur and looked desperately into the green eyes. "You were dying Sonic!"

"Then you should have let me die."

Tails couldn't speak. His words would just not come. Sonic glared at him, the featureless mask of a Metal Unit locking the fox in place like an iron prison.

"I'm in Hell, Tails." Sonic said, digital gaze unwavering. "I'm in absolute Hell. You're my brother. I love you. But I can't forgive you for this... torture that you've put me in. You should. Have let. Me die."

Tails felt the tears welling, guilt and shame wrenching his heart into pieces. He couldn't believe these words were coming from Sonic, his best friend and brother, companion and hero for so many years. It was not real. It couldn't be. "I..." the young genius choked, "I couldn't..."

The green optics finally looked away, returning to glowering through the wall. "I don't want to see you. Get out."

Tails couldn't. He was frozen. It felt like his heart had been ripped out and stomped on, and all he could do was stare in open-mouthed shock at his brother. "Sonic..."

A skeletal metallic arm snatched out, clumsily pointing in the general direction of the door as the green eyes blazed at him once again. "GET OUT."

Tails finally moved, hurrying to comply with his brother's demands. He turned tail and the tears exploded as he left the room.

Sonic didn't respond. He watched as his own arm fell stiffly beside his chair. He didn't bother to retrieve it. Instead, he looked back to the wall, glaring into nothing, trapped in the metal prison his friends had locked him inside.

The green eyes flickered off as Sonic attempted sleep, or whatever had replaced it, hoping against all hope that he would wake up from this nightmare.

He knew he wouldn't.

...

"Oh I swear... a proper shower and some real pampering is going to be SO good... sweet Gaia, how long has it been since I conditioned my fur?"

It was times like this that Shadow could really use a break. He merely grunted, arms folded, as in the dropship seat beside him a somewhat white bat in black field fatigues complained about the lack of beauty standards of long-term reconnaissance missions. Special Agent Bijoux-Angelique removed one glove and grimaced as she inspected her hand. "Oh man, my nails are an absolute disaster..."

"Rouge, please..." Shadow leaned his head back into the seat and groaned, "I really don't need to deal with any more of your whining right now..."

The bat's muzzle tweaked with a smirk. "Honey, you're just grumpy because you haven't had a coffee in a week."

"I am aware."

"E-123 OMEGA IS HIGHLY ANTICIPATING AN OIL BATH" the two Mobians' companion, a heavily-armoured robot with arms made out of machine guns, commented from his support frame in the centre of the dropship.

"Yes, I get it..." Shadow grunted, "You two want to spoil yourselves with some pampering. I get. It."

"E-123 OMEGA CARES NOT FOR PAMPERING."

Rouge reached a hand out and stroked Shadow's cheek, grinning maliciously as the black and red hedgehog recoiled as far the other direction as his seat straps would allow. "Come on, darling... after a week in the muck you can't deny it'll be nice to spoil yourself a little?"

Shadow grunted. "I'll sleep. And maybe grab something to eat that isn't a ration bar."

"How exciting..." Rouge yawned, sharp teeth glinting in the dropship's interior lights. "At least I know I have you boys around to give a girl some stimulation." The trio's conversation cut short as the ship slowed, the pilot's voice crackling over the internal communications. "Okay boys, girls, and killer robots... we have reached our destination here at Resistance HQ in sunny Green Hills, we hope you enjoyed your flight, no get off my ship and go get wasted or something. Enjoy your r and r, people."

Soon enough the dropship doors whined open, wind rushing as the concrete landing bay of Resistance HQ's main interior hangar slowed below. The interior lights flashed green, the seat straps unfastened, and field team Dark One descended the shuttle's boarding ramp.

"Well I'd love to hang around and chat, boys..." Rouge stretched her wings as the trio left the hangar and entered the tight halls of the Resistance base, "but I'm about due for some serious Me Time."

"I MUST ATTEND THE MOTOR POOL FOR MAINTENANCE." Omega replied, the huge robot's presence causing nearby Resistance troopers some sudden concern as he stomped behind his teammates.

"You enjoy your pampering as well Omega," Rouge said, looking to the shorter hedgehog walking beside her. "And we'll catch up for drinks, yeah? To celebrate a job well boring and uneventful."

"Later." Shadow waved dismissively. "I have to see somebody first."

Rouge's usual mischievousness slackened a little. "Send big blue our regards?" she offered Shadow a smile.

Shadow grunted. "What makes you think I'm talking about Sonic?"

"Just a hunch," Rouge smirked as Shadow veered left into another hallway, declining to even bid goodbye to the team he'd spent a week scouting the warzones of Mobius with. "I can read that boy like a book." The white bat lightly punched Omega in the arm and grinned woflishly. "Come on, Megs. Let's go get spoiled."

"AFFIRMATIVE."

...

Shadow spent some time investigating the headquarters. First order of business was coffee. Soon the hedgehog had a mug of steaming hot caffeine in one hand, marching solemnly for the medical bays. He spoke to the med-techs on duty, who pointed him in the direction of his quarry - the gardens. Shadow thanked the medics and continued on his way, hunting down a particular blue individual.

Shadow soon found himself outside in the afternoon sun, ignoring the hustle of soldiers and the noise of vehicles and equipment as he headed for the nearby gardens. The gardens were a wooded area, just beyond the parade ground, within which ran a dirt track often used by off-duty personnel for jogs.

"Isn't this nice, mister Sonic?" A young rabbit-mobian in the uniform of a Resistance Med-Tech chirruped happily, one hand brushing against a flowery bush as she smiled to her patient. "It's such a lovely day out... oh, mister Shadow?" Brown eyes widened in sudden surprise as the black hedgehog approached. "Mister Sonic, mister Shadow's here!"

Sonic remained silent, in his chair, vaguely glowering at the surrounding foliage. Green optics tracked briefly to meet Shadow as the hedgehog reached the chair, before swiftly looking away.

"Hello Cream," Shadow said, briefly acknowledging the larger medic who was handling Sonic's chair, "do you mind if we have a few minutes?"

Concern etched the young rabbit's face, her eyes flicking between Shadow's and her colleague's, before offering the hedgehog a small curtsey. "Of course, sir!" She beckoned to the bear-mobian and the two med-techs meekly wandered away, leaving Sonic alone with Shadow.

Shadow moved around the chair, arms folded, eyes scanning over what had become of Sonic the Hedgehog. The carapace of the life-support unit was a dull blue, the grey of piston-like mechanics forming the limbs. The torso section was bulky, filled with advanced devices that were keeping their user alive. Blinking lights and status indicators inhabited the back, noting the condition of the inhabitant's organs.

But the face... Shadow's quills bristled as his eyes met the featureless mask of a Metal Unit, coldly glaring into the nearby flowers.

"What do you want."

Shadow's ears perked at the synthetic voice. A copy of Sonic's natural voice, but flat and devoid of any emotion. Green optics glared into the dirt. "Why do you think?" Shadow replied, one eyebrow raising, "to see you."

"Why?" Sonic's head turned with a quite whirr and the green eyes tracked up to meet Shadow's. "So you can laugh at me? Go ahead."

"Last I checked," Shadow replied, arms folded across his chest and jaw set, "it wasn't uncommon for hedgehogs in recovery to receive visitors once in a while."

"Yeah. Everybody wants to see me." Sonic replied, one hand clenching and unclenching over and over, rhythmically. "did any of you ever think that I might not you to see me? Like this?"

Shadow merely frowned. "The medics say you're doing well."

"Doing well? Doing Well..." Shadow stepped back as metallic arms gripped at those of the chair, one dull blue foot kicking out and planting into the dirt. The black hedgehog reached out a hand as Sonic struggled in his chair, attempting to climb to his feet.

"Here. Let me-"

"GET OFF ME."

Shadow slowly retracted his hand, arms folding over his chest. Sonic kept trying, one arm swinging to the side, but finally gave up and slumped. Shadow watched the former hedgehog merely lay there, half-off the chair, like a broken toy. "You call this doing well?" Green optics scanned over the owner's frame dejectedly. "I can't do ANYTHING. I can't even stand up on my own. What kind of life is this?"

Shadow regarded the other hedgehog coldly, watching as Sonic attempted to right himself. One hand smacked awkwardly against the chair arm as he tried to retrieve it. "This is a nightmare, Shadow." Sonic went on, "I just want it to end."

"Is that really what you want?" Shadow replied, "you want it to just end?"

Sonic remained silent for a moment. "I want to run again Shadow," the synthetic voice replied, "I want to run and I want to feel and I want eat crap and laugh and cry and look in the mirror and not see a metal FREAK. I want my life back, Shadow. That's what I want"

Shadow nodded sagely. "Walk with me."

The green optics flicked back to meet his eyes, Sonic glowering accusingly from behind the metal face. "I knew it. You're just here to take the piss."

"Hedgehog, when have you ever known me to do that? Here." One hand reached out, offered to the hero. "Just take my hand."

Sonic glared. "Why?"

Black shoulders shrugged. "You have to learn to walk before you can run."

Green optics remained locked on the gloved hand before them, but eventually a metal limb raised. Metallic hand gripped its flesh counterpart, and Shadow heaved.

Sonic was heavy. His metal frame was packed with all manner of devices and technology designed to keep his organs alive, and it would have taken two normal mobians to lift him. But Shadow dragged the former hedgehog to his feet as easily as lifting a child.

"There." Shadow gripped metallic blue shoulders, steadying Sonic as he swayed in place. "Now come on. Just follow me." The black hedgehog set himself to Sonic's side, maintaining a supportive hold. "One foot in front of the other."

Sonic did as instructed, head bowed and optics locked on the mechanical feet that had replaced his own. It wasn't fast. It wasn't graceful. But soon, with Shadow's assistance, Sonic reached a steady pace, marching in time with the black and red hedgehog.

"See?" Shadow said, "you're doing it."

"Barely. This is hard, Shadow."

"Quit whining." Shadow relaxed his grip a little, Sonic's eyes not leaving the ground before them.

"I think after everything I've been through, I deserve a little 'whine'." Sonic replied. His optics remained locked on his feet, but he appeared to be moving more confidently now. "Why are you doing this anyway? Helping me?"

Shadow grunted. "You're an asset. The Resistance needs you on your feet. Not moping around feeling sorry for yourself."

"Oh gee. Great bedside manner, Shadow."

"Oh, excuse me, I wasn't aware that I was a nurse. You want me to take your temperature?"

"Oh, you got jokes now?"

Shadow shrugged. "Rouge always said I should lighten up a little. Apparently I'm a buzzkill."

"I hadn't noticed."

"Not the only thing you haven't noticed." Shadow replied, holding both hands in the air. Sonic took a moment to process that he was no longer being supported, and almost sent himself over as both arms jerked out to keep his balance.

"Shadow, don't do that!"

"This the same hedgehog who couldn't stand up on his own ten minutes ago?"

Sonic wobbled and seemed about to fall, metal hands comically flailing at his sides. Shadow sighed and resumed his supportive grip, Sonic allowing himself to be steered straight. Soon enough the two hedgehogs had performed a lap of the garden, and Sonic's unoccupied chair was just up ahead.

"Mister Sonic?" Cream looked relieved, her and the other med-tech having been hovering around his chair, undoubtedly wondering where he had disappeared to. "Mister Sonic! You were walking!"

"Yeah, fifteen whole minutes..." Sonic allowed Shadow to gently insert him back in the chair, the black hedgehog effortlessly supporting his metal weight. "Whoopee."

"Quit complaining. You managed, that's the important thing." Shadow crossed his arms again and looked over the blue hero. Sonic's lungs were heaving, the former hedgehog seemingly exhausted from the effort of just moving his mechanical body.

"Whatever you say Shads," Sonic replied. His green optics scanned over the legs of his frame. "But it's never going to be the same."

"No, it isn't It's going to be hard. You're going to have to learn to readjust. You have a long road ahead." Shadow spoke matter-of-factly, never one to mollycoddle or sugar-coat his words. "But I have faith in you."

Sonic tilted his head. "Why do you care?"

Shadow shrugged. "Like I say. You're an asset. Besides..." the ghost of a smirk tweaked the dark hedgehog's muzzle. "Who else am I supposed to compete with?"

Sonic's face lowered. "I don't feel so competetive these days..."

Shadow grunted, turning to leave the gardens. "Then get better. That's an order." With that, Shadow was gone.

"Did that faker just give me an order?" Sonic said, watching the space where the hedgehog had been.

"I'm sure mister Shadow's just being silly," Cream giggled, as the other med-tech took his position behind Sonic's chair. "Would you like to stay out a while longer, mister Sonic?"

Sonic shook his head, the motion stiff and clumsy. "No... I'm tired. I want to go home now." Sonic tilted his head again, considering. "Actually... scratch that. I have to go see somebody first."

"Anything you say, mister Sonic."

...

Tails yawned as he reclined in the leather seat of the Tornado, the aircraft that was his pride and joy inhabiting the centre of a small hangar tucked away at one end of the HQ airstrip. He was tired. At sixteen years old and already chief of Resistance engineering matters here at the headquarters, the fox had a lot of responsibility, and his days were long. But he was the best person for the job, he'd been told many times, and he took his duties seriously.

Not that he felt so hot about himself right now.

"Why didn't you let me die, Tails?"

Tails remembered glowing green optics glaring at him accusingly, their owner in a pain he couldn't understand.

Maybe I should have...

Tails remembered the... mess that had been rushed back to Resistance HQ, what was left of Sonic the hedgehog only kept alive through advanced life-support. He felt sick. That was his brother. His brother. How could he have let Sonic go, when he had the ability to bring him back? It was his job. His responsibility.

And yet... if Sonic was suffering so much now, it was his fault... how could he do that to the hedgehog who had practically raised him?

Tails just felt like dirt.

Tails closed his eyes, the sound of aircraft outside pleasing to him. He began to fall asleep, head bowing as sleep descended.

"Tails? Are you awake?"

The fox's eyes gummed open and he stretched in his seat. "I am now..." he grumbled shifting in the open cockpit to check who had arrived. He leaned over the side of the plane to find Cream and one of her medical colleagues... a dull blue individual occupying the chair between them. "Oh..." Tails' ears folded at the sight of his brother, guilt and shame stabbing his heart.

"Sorry Tails..." Cream said lightly, big brown eyes regarding him nervously, "Sonic wanted to come and see you..."

"Did he?" Tails couldn't help but feel bitter. Not at his brother, but at himself. And the situation he had put Sonic in.

"That's right..." Sonic said, synthetic vocals flat as ever. "Everybody else has been to see me. Figured it was about time I returned the favour."

"You sure you want to?" Tails said, averting his eyes from his brother and fiddling with the plane's instruments, "I thought you hated me for... well. You know..."

"Hey now," Sonic shifted awkwardly in his chair, and Tails felt worry grip his heart. Sonic gestured to the medics beside him. "Little space, guys?" Cream and the other med-tech stepped back, Sonic now gripping the arms of his chair. He leaned forward, slowly and carefully extending one metal foot to the concrete ground.

"Sonic? Sonic what're you..."

Before Tails could even get out of the plane, Sonic lurched out of his chair. Startled voice were raised as the medics rushed to help, Tails hopping to his feet in fear as Sonic stumbled forward. There was a clang as the former hedgehog staggered to the plane, metal palms outstretched to steady himself against the aircraft's fuselage.

"Oh my god! Sonic!"

"Mister Sonic! Are you okay?"

Sonic remained leaned against the plane, supporting himself with both hands. "Well..." he said, optics flickering over the dents beneath his palms, "that's gonna leave a mark... sorry Tails."

"Sonic, what are you playing at?" Tails all but snapped, immediately checking over his brother's frame for signs of damage, "you need to take this slow! You could have really damaged... hurt yourself!"

"Well it's a good job Prower tech's built tough huh?" Sonic replied. Tails and the large medic helped steady him as he removed his hands from the plane, swaying in place as he fought to keep his balance. "See? Solid as a rock." The green optics flicked to the dents their owner had caused. "Well. Mostly."

"Why are you here, Sonic?" Tails sighed, worriedly checking Sonic's life-support indicators on his back, "I didn't think you'd want to talk to me."

"Because buddy... truth is, I've been a grade-a jerk." The green optics scanned in their visor, looking into the floor. "Everyone worked so hard to save my life, and I treat you all like that." The optics looked up to Tails. "I'm sorry buddy."

Tears began forming in the fox's eyes, Tails sniffing as one gloved hand reached up to wipe the moisture away. "I'm sorry Sonic... I know you never asked to be brought back this way... but I couldn't lose you... I had to do something... I was desperate! We all were!"

"I know bud..." Sonic replied, "but hey... if it means I get to spend more time with my little brother? I don't think I'm ready to call it quits just yet." Tails sniffled and almost lunged himself at the former hedgehog, wrapping his arms around Sonic in a tight hug. "Woah, hey now! Watch it, you don't wanna get caught in any moving parts. I'm still working on the whole moving thing."

Tails removed himself from his brother and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry... maybe I can help improve the connections between your brain and the frame? I have plenty of ideas for improvements."

"What do you think I am, a toaster?" Sonic replied, looking down at one hand. "But yeah... this is really hard, Tails. I'm going to need help. A lot of help, from everybody, to get better. Anything you can do... I'll take it."

Tails nodded. "You've got it, Sonic. Whatever you need."

"Thanks bud." Sonic's optics scanned back to the Tornado. "Been a while since I've seen the old girl. Sorry about the... damage."

"It'll bump out," Tails replied, turning to the plane. "You feel like a quick flight?"

Sonic tilted his head from side-to-side.

"Fire her up, buddy!"

Tails beamed, and with assistance from the larger medic they managed to secure Sonic into the passenger seat of the old plane. He knew, as did everybody, that Sonic would never be the same. But he was still alive. And Tails, for the first time since the tragedy that had claimed Sonic's body, had his brother back.