Hello! Welcome to another chapter of Mechanized Production! We'll get to the reviews from last time before we begin!

1TGN: Well hopefully you've got everything sorted out now, I hope things went well! Tails being back with Robotnik certainly isn't good but Cosmo joining the Resistance is certainly a fun development, where their relationship goes from here we'll have to see!

Perturbo: Sometimes slower chapters give you guys and the characters a chance to process things and for me to be able to have some time to just explore more of these characters, there's still a solid amount of story left so hopefully you'll enjoy what's still coming!

AndTails: Cosmo being with the Resistance is fun! Hopefully she'll provide some unique contributions to the team! As for Tails' plan, you'll have to follow along to see it in action!

That's everybody, time to get started!

Mechanized Production

Relational Realizations

Cosmo sat in the main room within the Resistance base, countless thoughts running through her electronic mind. The meeting yesterday to discuss what exactly could be done to help rescue Tails hadn't come up with any good ideas. So now, with nothing she could do to immediately change things, the situation was looking more than a little hopeless. Joining the Resistance was a way to help, but the pit in her chest was now a constant reminder of what had happened. She really hoped that Tails would be free soon so they could see each other again.

That is, if he was even still alive…

"No Cosmo, don't go there." She thought to herself. "Tails is just fine."

Still, even the idea of what Robotnik could do to Tails frightened her. Deep down, she really hoped he was alright…

Her thoughts were interrupted by Sonic taking a seat next to her, seemingly concerned about the elemental.

"You doing alright?" He asked.

"I'm fine…" Cosmo responded, "Just thinking about some stuff."

"Like what?"

"It's… It's just about Tails I guess… I really hope he's okay…"

"I'm worried about him too." The hedgehog responded, "But I'm sure he's doing alright, he's been fine for as long as he has before this hasn't he?"

"He did say he was born there… Maybe he'll be fine… I just wish there was more we could do…"

"I do too, but I think we're doing the best we can. How much did you know Tails before he got captured?"

"Not very long but… We… We got along really well…"

"Seems like it, you're worrying yourself sick over it. If you can even get sick, I mean, what exactly are you if you don't mind me asking?"

"I'm a machine created by Robotnik. I can control plants, but the fact that Robotnik made me scares others sometimes. So I like making myself look more like them to maybe help things a little, but it isn't much, and almost everyone I meet thinks I'm scary…"

"Well, it's certainly different, but I wouldn't say scary. I don't really mind having you around here."

"Thanks…" Cosmo answered.

Sonic put a hand on the elemental's shoulder, "Hey, he'll be alright, we'll figure it out."

Deep down, Cosmo knew he was right… But she still struggled to focus on much else. Maybe just spending some time in nature would help.

She silently thanked Sonic as she made her way up the ladder and stepped out into the forest above.

-X-

Tails was positively exhausted. His thrusters disengaged as he landed, causing him to stumble for a bit before collapsing to his hands and knees, panting heavily to catch his breath. Everything felt sore. Waves of pain radiated from his legs and feet all the way up to his shoulders and back. Robotnik's testing since his return to the Complex yesterday had been much more intense and demanding than it ever had before, probably more as punishment for his recent escape than anything else.

"That's all for today, a subpar performance all things considered." The computerized voice of Robotnik spoke, "Hopefully you'll perform better tomorrow…"

Tails slowly made his way to his feet before trudging over to the exit of the testing chamber, gently rubbing one of his sore shoulder blades to try and help relax them a bit. A pair of energy canisters awaited him in the receptacle near the exit, one to refill his own augmentations after having their energy nearly completely drained by the testing today, and a second for his own personal use.

Retrieving both of them he was then escorted back to his cell, where he promptly collapsed onto his cot, taking a moment to finally rest his aching body.

"Ugh…" He thought to himself. "Well… At least I got those charges out of it…"

Tails took a bit longer to rest himself before sitting up. With two plasma charges so far, his idea was well underway. The fox gently set one of the two charges into his augmentations, feeling the usual sensation of bliss flood his system as its contents completely drained, helping him to relax and focus on the step ahead. The next step of the plan was going to be a bit more challenging. Still, he knew what had to be done, and right now, all that he had to do was wait.

That of course, left him with plenty of time to think about some recent events.

"I mean… She's cute and all but…" He thought to himself.

Cosmo had been on Tails' mind ever since getting taken back to the Complex, more specifically, the exact nature of his relationship with the elemental. "Maybe we're just friends?"

"Come on! It's obvious Tails. You love her! Just admit it!"

To say the fox was conflicted about Cosmo would be an understatement. Differing opinions from his own thoughts made it difficult to tell exactly how he felt as he sat in deep reflection, listening to his own thoughts as he tried to figure things out.

"She's nice, we're pretty good friends I think…"

"If she's just nice, and if you're just friends, then why are you always blushing around her?"

"It's just natural! I can't even look at her without getting all nervous!"

"Then why do you feel nervous around her? You're just friends after all, right?"

"Well… I-I guess it's just…"

"What about when she held your hand…"

"She was just-"

"And let you sleep on her shoulder…"

"I mean it wasn't a huge thing!"

"Plus that time when you two hugged after she tried to stand up for you…"

"Okay fine! I do love her alright!?"

"There it is! Then why don't you tell her?"

"I just… Don't think I'm good enough for her…"

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"I'm just… Not really sure she's even interested…"

"Come on Tails, are you blind? Of course she loves you!"

"But… I'm not really anything… I'm just some freak that's lived in the Complex his whole life…"

"Well obviously she sees something different, you just need to see that in yourself!"

"Maybe… Maybe you're right… Maybe she does love me back… Alright, when I get out of here, I'll tell her."

"That's the spirit!"

Tails smiled, resolving to his choice. He wasn't sure how long it would be, but he knew he would see Cosmo again.

Of that much, he was sure.

-X-

Cosmo sat down in the shade of a nearby tree, her dress melding with the grass as she looked out from her hidden position in the treeline at the large structure that loomed before her.

She knew Tails was somewhere inside, but not knowing where he was or how to help him made her feel powerless, and that didn't even begin with the unusual feelings she was having right now.

Cosmo had been originally designed as a weapon, one Robotnik could use to capture other mobians to be taken to the Complex. As a result, she'd been programmed with knowledge of mobian emotion to better assist in predicting the behavior of her targets. Once she'd gotten enough control over herself to break from Robotnik's grasp, she'd been able to modify the program a bit to allow her to experience the same emotions that her targets had. That, along with using her ability to manipulate plant life to create a mobian-like body, she was able to mostly replicate organic behavior and thought processes.

The program however was far from perfect, and occasionally, it led to some confusion for the elemental on what exactly she was feeling.

Right now was one of those times. As Cosmo looked longingly at the Complex, she found some sort of emotion present, one she wasn't familiar with… It was strange, foreign even, but she also always got that feeling whenever Tails was around or whenever she thought of him. For some reason it just didn't compute in her electronic brain, and that fact confused Cosmo immensely.

"I mean I've just… I guess I haven't felt this before…" She thought. As part of her reworked system, emotions weren't necessarily added to her knowledge until she felt them, a carryover from her original programming. Still, she thought she'd felt everything there was to feel by now, but apparently, some emotions still eluded her.

"But what is it?" She thought. Searching her database to try and find an answer to her question, she was eventually met by one singular emotion that it could be.

Love.

"That can't be right… There's got to be something else."

As she continued to search the database however, her suspicions and original answer only got confirmed time and time again. Until finally she was forced to a conclusion.

"But I'm not in love with Tails! I mean, sure he was willing to go back to the Complex to protect me… Also he really does like me, and he's just so cute and…"

Suddenly, it registered to Cosmo what she was thinking. "Oh…"

She was in love with Tails…

"I guess that's not a bad thing…"

Cosmo reflected on her conclusion for a bit, giving it time to settle in. She really did love Tails, but did Tails love her back?

"Oh course he does! I mean, sometimes he just gets all nervous, it really is adorable. But what does this mean for the two of us?"

Her answer came quite quickly, "Maybe I could talk to him about it. After all, if he loves me, then he's got to feel the same way!"

She made her way back to her feet and started back to the Resistance base, a newfound resolve in her system. She was going to help Tails, even if she needed to wait years for the opportunity.

But one thing was for sure, she would see Tails again.

-X-

Tails held his arm up to the scanner outside the testing chamber, allowing it to scan the barcode tattooed there. After it finished, the hydraulic doors slowly opened, allowing the fox to enter. The testing yesterday had been particularly brutal, and he still felt somewhat sore this time around. Still, it wasn't like he had very much of a choice not to participate.

"Well…" The now familiar voice of Robotnik began. "Let's see how things go today…"

Tails activated the thrusters on his back and took off. Flying around long enough he figured for Robotnik to have at least some of the results he needed.

Now, it was time to put the next part of his plan into action.

The next time the kitsune passed near the wall of the testing chamber, he intentionally shifted his shoulders just a bit too far, causing one of his mechanical tails to clip the wall. Due to the incredibly high speeds, the results were far more destructive than he'd expected.

The entire end section of his left tail almost instantly turned into shrapnel. The fox felt his balance and stability falter as he tried his best to land, coming down hard and tumbling end over end until he came to a stop.

"Oh what is it this time!?" Robotnik exclaimed as Tails made his way to his feet, having to support himself against the nearby wall due to his shaky sense of balance, he'd definitely bruised something, but he seemed mostly unharmed. Looking back over his shoulder he surveyed just how bad the damage was, over half of his left tail had been destroyed, leaving sharp shredded metal strands sticking out. Bits and pieces of the destroyed appendage were scattered around the testing chamber.

"You incompetent little pest!" Robotnik exclaimed, the anger in his voice more than noticeable. "Pay attention! We'll have to make up for the rest of this testing next time… Just go get that fixed…"

The fox took a moment to readjust his balance, normally his tails gave him quite a bit more weight in the back but now that one of them had been all but obliterated, it definitely made it so he had to focus a bit more on staying upright as he made his way to the door.

"That worked a bit better than expected…" He thought to himself. But still, it worked. Now, it was time to get the information he needed…

The usual accompaniment of drones met him as he left the testing chamber and was led down the dark hallways of the Complex once again, ready to put the next step of his escape plan into action…

Alright everyone! That's it for this chapter, sorry it's so short this time around but I figured that was a good spot to end it! We'll have a normal one next time! Let me know your thoughts on this chapter in a review and I'll see you next time!