Long ago...
Jack sat in his office...Well, the closest thing this base HAD to an office for him. It was more of a small rest area for him to fill out reports and maybe catch 40 winks between assignments and new recruit submissions. He'd just received a fairly harsh reprimand from Knuckles about the continued presence of Edge on his team, despite multiple reports from Wolf 6 and beyond about his behavior on missions. Someone had apparently taken the time to compile all of these reports and anonymously drop them off where Resistance authority could see it...Someone who, by Jack's estimation, had the access of a team leader.
Or, at least, someone smart and dedicated enough to learn her team leader's login for the explicit purpose of getting Edge kicked out of the Resistance.
Jack looked up as Spike entered his "office." He could tell by her demeanor that she already knew what this was about but was still playing friendly. "You wanted to see me, Jack?"
"Are you aware how much of a breach of trust it is to go behind your team leader's back and use HIS resources against a member of his team?" Jack said, bluntly. "Yes. It stings about as much as when said team leader makes excuses as his comrades die around him." Spike responded in turn. "So, you're smart enough to do it, but you aren't smart enough to deny it? What, do you think there aren't going to be any consequences to this?" Jack asked, getting up out of his chair and walking over to her. Spike stood firm. "No. I knew what I was doing the whole time, and what it meant...And as much as it hurts, it was the only way to force your hand."
"What are you talking about, Spike?" Jack asked. Spike lowered her head and took a deep breath. "Effective immediately...I tender my resignation from Wolf 6."
Jack stood back in shock. "My name has already been redacted from the team logs. Once I walk out that door...It'll be like I was never here."
"Spike..." Jack started, before she interrupted him. "Good-bye, Jack. Have a good life...Whatever it holds in store for you now."
Now
Jack watched as the Everhold prison guards loaded Edge into the back of their prison transport, his wrist now in a cast to keep it still while it healed. He avoided making direct eye contact with Edge as they loaded up, a feeling of betrayal present on the yellow wolf's face. Spike walked over as they closed the doors and drove away, her chest bandaged up. "You wanted to make sure he actually made it into that truck too, huh?"
"Just...Trying to take more responsibility for my mistakes, I guess...Never an easy thing." Jack said. "Listen, Spike, about earlier..."
"It's in the past, Jack. No use holding onto it now that you finally learned your lesson." Spike said, patting him on the back. "Don't be a stranger anymore, okay? We could all use more friends nowadays." Jack smiled as she walked away, but his countenance fell as soon as she was out of his sight range. Looking back at where the prison transport had just been, he got this horrible, nagging feel that wouldn't go away. As if, at his core, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, he had just made a terrible mistake...