Jack and Spike caught up to Edge near a vent on the top platform of the Eggman facility. Spike instinctively pointed her Wispon at Edge, who just sat there unamused. "About time you two caught up." He said, ignoring the spiky death weapon currently aimed at his face. "I'm giving you one last warning, Edge. Surrender, or I'm taking you down." Spike said through gritted teeth. "I'll go back once the job's done, Spike." Edge replied simply. Intrigued, Jack put a hand over Spike's Wispon. She begrudgingly lowered it. "You're serious about that?" Jack asked. Edge nodded. "You won't even need to bust out the cuffs. I'll come quietly." Jack looked at Spike, who immediately began protesting. "Jack, if you think for one second that I'm gonna-"
"Look, I get it. You two have been beefing since day one, and your patience for dealing with him ran out a long time ago. But suppose at least ONE of those ECS Units is one of your former teammates, or even just some random innocent gunned down during Eggman's conquest...Do you REALLY want to be the reason they never get found?" Jack interrupted, assuming a strict voice he hadn't used in a good while. It seemed to work through, as Spike just sighed and lowered her head. "Fine. I'll work with him this ONE time...But don't you EVER do that again." Jack nodded, understanding fully. Behind him, Edge activated the electricity function on his blade, allowing him to cut the vent cover clean off. "I wasn't really expecting YOU to come here, Spike, but I guess it works out. You might be the only one able to roll through that vent and open a door."
"Alright. I'll radio in once I've got an entry point secured." Spike said, taking off her jacket and throwing it to Jack before curling up into a ball. "Hold this. I doubt they clean these things." With that, Jack gave her a slight push, and she started rolling down the vent. Edge whistled as she went down. "Impressive, isn't it? How hedgies can just...Do that."
"You know they don't like being called that, right? It's kind of offensive." Jack said, folding Spike's jacket as he sat down on the metal floor. "Oh really? I don't recall caring." Edge replied, sitting down next to him. "You know, this is kind of nice...Working with you again...Wish most of the old gang didn't hate my guts...The ones that aren't dead, anyway."
"To be fair, you kinda made that bed for yourself." Jack responded. Edge sighed regretfully at that. "Yeah. Guess it was just easier to be a jerk to everyone back then...Especially when you weren't sure if you would even survive the next mission...Didn't know who else you would lose tomorrow."
Jack nodded in silent agreement. "It all just...Catches up to you in the end, doesn't it?"
The two sat in silence for a moment after that, neither of them willing to finish that train of thought.
"Hey, you remember Slings?" Edge asked, breaking the silence. "The spider guy? Yeah, I remember him...He belonged in a mental hospital, not on the battlefield." Jack replied cracking a grim smile. "Yeah, well, being trapped in a spider-filled basement for two months will do that to ya...Still don't know how he made those webs. They got him pretty far, all things considered." Edge mused. "It's weird though, we did all of that fighting, put so much on the line, and the war is finally ended by...What? A rookie and two Sonics?"
"The smaller Sonic is from another dimension."
"Huh?"
"The smaller Sonic." Jack repeated. "He's...From another dimension...At least, I think he is...That's what they said in the report, anyway. My girlfriend's got a whole theory about it." Edge just laughed. "Yeah, guess that tracks. Though since the war IS over...Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Uh...Yeah, go for it." Jack said, checking his Wispon's power levels. "Did you ever encounter...Him? You know...that guy in the mask?" Jack stopped, Edge's words clearly shaking loose a well-buried memory. "...Once." He said after a moment, dread emanating from his voice, making it sound a little rougher than usual. "It was in the first few weeks of the war. Before Wolf 6. I was the only remaining member of my squad. He was just...Floating there, ready to end me in an instant, and I...I just couldn't bring myself to be afraid of him. All I felt in that moment was...anger and hatred."
"How did you get away?" Edge asked, intrigued. "He just looked me in the eye and...flew away. It was like we...understood each other? I don't know. But I have this odd feeling like...if that encounter happened now...I probably wouldn't survive." Jack nervously cleared his throat as he finished, clearly still shaken by the memory. Spike's transmission broke the silence afterward. "I found a door. Northeastern side of the building. Just buzz me when you wanna get in." Jack and Edge nodded to each other as they headed off.